44 Days

Margit Benyo Demeterne — or Gitta, as her friends and family call her — spent over 40 days in a medically induced coma on life support in the Intensive Care Unit of Uzsoki Street Hospital with severe pneumonia caused by the coronavirus infection. Gitta’s life was hanging by a thread, however, she proved to be a fighter, as she had to countless times throughout her life. She had two hip-replacement surgeries, a thyroid tumor, a kidney transplant, and is also asthmatic. At the end of 2020 came the coronavirus. Gitta and her family were cautious, and strictly followed the recommended guidelines. Despite their efforts and cautiousness, they still found themselves face to face with the virus. While the majority of her family members were fortunate enough to experience a milder case, Gitta had to be transported to the Uzsoki Street Hospital by ambulance. During the first four days, Gitta received high-flow oxygen while connected to a CPAP-machine and was subsequently transferred to intensive care after her condition deteriorated. By the time she was admitted to intensive care, she was in a medically induced coma. Her circulatory system collapsed three times, and for a while it was questionable whether she would survive. Gitta’s desire to live, and her family’s unwavering support were both necessary for Gitta to overcome her initially precarious condition. She was able to leave the hospital after 68 days, on January 4, 2021.