Coronavirus Adelaide: Survivor Anna Liptak sends message of hope after COVID-19 recovery
Anna Liptak was one of the unlucky 20 per cent of coronavirus victims to cop the full force of a severe case. But while the world has changed a lot since her diagnosis, she sees a bright future.
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For Anna Liptak, beating the coronavirus has triggered strong, mixed emotions.
The Adelaide mother of two, who was South Australia’s sixth case of COVID-19, is “elated” after having survived her critical bout.
The 46-year-old – Australia’s first person-to-person contractor of the deadly virus – is also overjoyed that her son, a 16-year-old Sacred Heart College student, is disease-free.
The self-employed businesswoman was one of the 20 per cent of patients who suffer severe symptoms and is still fighting pneumonia, a side-effect.
But now she is overwhelmingly sad for the suffering others are having to face and shocked at the way the world has dramatically changed since she was rushed to hospital a fortnight ago.
And, as with thousands of others, her livelihood has been placed in jeopardy as her two businesses struggle in the widespread economic turmoil.
“Strangely, I have very mixed emotions,” she told The Advertiser at her home in Seacliff after being discharged from the Flinders Medical Centre three days ago.
“I am elated that I don’t have coronavirus. I am fortunate enough to have survived it and got through it.
“And, in that same sentence, I am sad at others less fortunate than me who are very unwell.
“The world has changed in the two weeks I was in and then out of hospital.
“I am very sad for the many others who have lost their jobs, including many of my friends.
“Many others have businesses that might not survive.”
But Mrs Liptak, whose doctor brother is former Crows’ player Matthew Liptak, has a strong public message – look after your health as people struggle with restrictions.
Doctors believe her strong fitness levels helped her recovery, despite being among the “unlucky” 20 per cent of cases with “severe symptoms”.
Mrs Liptak, who has run 25 marathons and survived the 2013 Boston bombings, has given permission for her blood – taken upon hospital admission – to be used to help find a cure.
She has also produced a video diary of her experiences.
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“Eating healthily is part of my every day,” said Mrs Liptak, who owns a personal training business and operates a marathon holiday packages tour firm.
“Essentially, I knew I was strong and fit and this was not going to bring me down. I practised what I preached and believed in my body.
“Never before has it been so important to look after your body – exercise, eat well and be healthy. I truly believe that’s what got me through.”
Mrs Liptak had attended an international film conference in Melbourne at the start of the month – well before the virus pandemic became a crisis – as she promoted her own documentary about running the New York marathon.
Attendees had travelled from hotspot countries including the US, Britain, Spain and Italy. Within days, she became unwell with a headache and joked with a colleague that she had “the coronavirus”.
Her condition deteriorated, with a fever, cough, a sore throat and stomach and a very painful chest. After positive tests at the Repat’s drive-through clinic, she was rushed by ambulance to FMC, where her condition was described as “critical”.
It was the start of a real-life “nightmare” as she spent the next fortnight in quarantine.
“This was the day the Earth stood still,” she said. “I felt hopeless in hospital. Was I going to die here (or) never be able to see my family again? Was my mum at risk – would she die? I couldn’t live with this.”
Today, she struggles to explain the joy she felt after the second negative test. But she is now hopeful her story will inspire people.
“I truly believe in the power of a positive mindset,” she said.
