Those who have been challenged by an illness and know that the king's life hangs by a thread share the desire to enjoy each day to the fullest. "I've been living for free for three years," says civil guard and basketball coach of Magec Tías, Carmelo Alemán, who spent 40 days in the ICU with Covid-19 at the beginning of the pandemic.
After three years since he was discharged, Alemán explains that the only after-effect he has is reduced lung capacity by half. "Now I use Ventolin so that, perhaps, something can be done. And it may be that with a little more physical activity it would improve somewhat, although the doctors have told me that it is no longer recoverable. Also, now I get out of breath quite easily," says the civil guard.
"I'm not muscular nor was I in shape and I was able to recover, but there were people physically prepared who were more affected. There was no clear pattern. It was, and I think still is, a very unknown virus. I don't know if I caught it again, every time I've been tested at a medical center it has been negative. I had enough with the first time," says Alemán.
Looking back, the basketball coach acknowledges that he is now more cautious. "Covid-19 marks you. If I can prevent something, I do it. For example, if I suspect I may have the flu, I wear a mask. And I also use hydroalcoholic gel," explains Alemán.
Contrary to what happened to many people after contracting Covid-19, Alemán's sense of smell became more sensitive. "Before the pandemic, my wife would put on perfume and I wouldn't notice until she was next to me. However, after passing the disease, she puts it on in the room and I can already smell it from the living room," says the civil guard.
"But what has changed my life the most is in travel. I was very reluctant to travel when my wife told me, and now I'm more encouraged to do them. A few days ago I came from the United States with the basketball team. And I got my wife to come with us. It's a hobby she has and now we share it. In fact, this morning she was already saying to me "What are we going to do on the May bank holiday?". And the thing is that life has to be enjoyed and I hope it will be for many years," concludes Alemán.
"I came back to life"
Santiago Torres is another survivor of Covid-19. He is 72 years old and was hospitalized for almost a month in the ICU in February 2021. "When the first batch of vaccines arrived in Spain, I entered the hospital. I was intubated and thank God I'm fine. The truth is that they did an incredible job because many people of all ages were dying all over the world," explains the president of Coros y Danzas de Arrecife.
"At the end of March I left the Molina Orosa but I didn't have the strength to walk and I had incredible after-effects. Also, I lost almost 30 kilograms, muscle mass, appetite, voice, smell and taste. I lost almost everything except my life. But I clung to it and started rehabilitation," says Torres.
With his sights set on physical and mental recovery, Torres began the rehabilitation period at the José Molina Orosa Hospital. "I was there for two years and I regained my strength. With Dr. Luis I started walking and exercising. And I really recovered from almost everything. But I'm still going to the speech therapist. They keep a strict follow-up with me. So as soon as I could speak, I dedicated some Canarian folías to the health personnel because I came back to life," says the president of Coros y Danzas de Arrecife.
"The after-effect that I have today is the voice. I have a small scar on my chest that causes a lot of salivation and, although there are times when I speak very clearly, there are others when it seems that I speak hoarsely. It doesn't let me speak as I want. I like music, folklore, and from time to time I like to sing a copla, but for the moment I can only make voices and help my colleagues to get the group forward," acknowledges Torres.
The president of Coros y Danzas de Arrecife points out that he has always led "a quiet and very beautiful life" in the company of his family and friends and hopes that it will continue to be so for a long time. "I am very excited because it is a new opportunity that God has given me. I have been born again and I am aware that many people cannot tell it like I do. Therefore, my goal is to continue living until God wants," concludes Torres.
