Breathing Again: Gulshan’s Journey from Hopelessness to Healing

Once a vibrant and active mother of five, Gulshan – a resident of Shershah, Karachi – found herself confined to a wheelchair due to the cruel clutches of pulmonary fibrosis and connective tissue disorder, a battle that began after a severe bout of COVID-19 in 2021. Despite recovering from COVID-19, Gulshan was left struggling to draw each breath every time feeling like it could be her last.

Her body felt as fragile as if she had just given birth, her strength reduced to nothing. Cold sweats and constant irritability became her companions, and Gulshan’s life which had once been filled with looking after her household and joyfully attending her children’s schools and college events, was brought to a terrifying standstill.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t change my clothes or take a shower on my own. I used to pray that either Almighty would take me or make me better. Without my family, I think I would’ve fallen into depression completely. But my children kept watching me waiting to get better.”

Gulshan visited hospital after hospital, only to be met with demotivation and a death prognosis. Still, she continued to search for treatment until by chance she met an acquaintance who suggested she visit Indus Hospital.

When Gulshan first came to Indus, she had little hope that she would get better, bogged down by the many past bad experiences. However, upon her arrival, Gulshan was met with unexpected warmth and care. In the Emergency ward, where her oxygen levels dangerously plummeted, she was treated not as a common patient, but as a VIP she felt. Injections, drips, and care flowed freely, without a single rupee asked. The kindness she experienced brought tears to her eyes. Once stabilized Gulshan was registered in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Outpatient Department.

Under the expert care of Dr. Saima and a team of dedicated nurses, therapists, and counselors, Gulshan began the slow journey to recovery, something previous hospitals had declared an impossibility. With every appointment, she felt the support of the Indus team, their encouraging words guiding her back to health. Gulshan was also given nutritional support & guidance, and psychosocial counseling to deal with the anxiety and depression that came with living with a chronic disease.

“I was ready to surrender, but Indus picked me up,” Gulshan shared, her voice filled with gratitude. “Dr. Saima and Dr. Danish believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Today, I am not just breathing easy; I am living. I can walk, run, and do everything I thought was lost to me forever.”