Europe 1 7:00 p.m., March 03, 2023

At the start of the health crisis, Fouad contracted Covid twice in a mild way, but in 2021, a third time positive, the 50-year-old listener says he came close to death.

In the Free antenna of Europe 1, he also evokes his heavy vision problems at the microphone of Olivier Delacroix.

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At the microphone of Olivier Delacroix that evening, Fouad, 50, testifies to several difficult life experiences, in particular after having contracted the Covid three times.

He also recounts the serious vision problems he has to face.

"I had a very complicated experience with Covid since I had it three times. I had it during the first wave, twice, with symptoms. At the time, it was the Virulent Covid, but I got through it as if by a miracle. On the other hand, I had a very serious Covid in November-December 2021, after my sister who had fallen seriously ill and had been in intensive care.

"After the coma, I did not recognize my family"

"My sister got away with it, they didn't just intubate her while I, unfortunately, got worse after three weeks in hospital. When I got to the hospital, I I was in very serious condition. The doctor told me that I had arrived too late, and that it had started badly."

After being transferred to Lariboisière hospital, Fouad explains that he was in "extremely serious condition. My lungs were affected at 75%. The doctor who received me told me that he could not guarantee me that I was going to get out of it, and that my condition was very serious. And then, they put me on oxygen, and on anti-inflammatories, etc.

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"My condition having worsened after two weeks, they told me that I had to be intubated or I risked dying in one or two days. They alerted my family, who came, and we made the decision to intubate myself. I was in a coma for 24 days, and when I came out of it, I didn't know where I was, I couldn't speak. At first, I didn't recognize my family, and over time it started to get better. I lost 30 kilos in 24 days, I had become rickety. I started to do rehabilitation, a little walking, but I was really exhausted, I couldn't breathe."

After two months of rehabilitation and the follow-up of a physiotherapist, the listener affirms that he has regained muscle and strength, but that today he has sequelae with pulmonary fibrosis which is gradually improving. .

"The experience was traumatic," says Fouad.

"When I was in a coma, I had a near-death experience," he adds.

Multiple eye problems

Beyond having developed a serious form of the disease, the listener details that he has been visually impaired since birth.

“I have microphthalmia, which is very rare. These are very small, farsighted eyes. a very difficult education, we didn't have the same technological tools as now. I still did high school."

"The problem", continues the Parisian, "is that since 1997, I have pathologies which have been triggered. They have detected a bilateral cataract in me. It is a simple operation in general, but on eyes such as mine - called pathogens - can get out of hand. The operation was a success, but two days later I had 'malignant glaucoma'. My blood pressure rose to 60 and I had an infection in my eye, and also cystoid macular edema, which is to say that I lost my sight. They didn't want to operate on me again because there was too much risk."

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"Since then I have a follow-up. My left eye is pretty much lost, I only have 1/50 left. With this eye I only see shapes, I can't see details and I'm embarrassed by the light. In my right eye, I have a cataract that has been evolving since 1997, and which is accelerating. In December, they diagnosed me with glaucoma, and they said to me, 'Your eye is in danger because you are likely to have malignant glaucoma (...) you have to intervene right away'. The ultimate solution would be to operate on the cataract, but it's very risky. I even have bilateral macular edema too since my birth, and retinal dystrophy", lists the listener, who says he has the courage to face all these ordeals that impose on him life.