In praise of recovery

One of the most famous survivors of the catastrophic Spanish flu epidemic a hundred years ago was the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. He is, of course, famous for his iconic painting, The Scream, which was completed many years before he was struck down with Spanish flu.

Munch certainly looked the worse for wear here in this self-portrait but eventually recovered. He went on to live and be productive for another quarter of a century.

Munch was among several famous international figures who survived the flu outbreak of 1918-19. These included Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In later life, as American president, FDR went on to guide his people through the Great Depression and World War Two.

Another eventual world leader to survive was Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. He fell very ill and nearly became one of the flu’s ten thousand victims in Addis Ababa as it swept through the city.

A century on, it’s encouraging to celebrate those who have recovered from Covid-19, both the famous and less well-known. At the time of writing more than 412,000 people across the world are now reported to have caught and shaken off the virus. Many others have recovered without even knowing they have ever had it.

It is important, of course, to continue to remember and mourn those who have died from the virus.

However, we have been encouraged to read survival stories such as that of the American actor Tom Hanks and his wife Ruth Wilson. They contracted the virus while working in Australia and posted several dignified tweets about their condition.

Over the past Easter weekend there was also the welcome news that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been discharged from hospital after suffering from the virus.

The stories of the not-so-famous can also be an encouragement. This is a down-to-earth account in her own words by a 31-year-old NHS worker called Laura from Wales.

Dominic Minghella is a British TV producer and screenwriter. He is the brother of the late Anthony Minghella, the director of The English Patient film. Last month Dominic developed symptoms of Covid-19 and was admitted to hospital. He was later released. He has written a vivid account of his experiences and his inner feelings. Well worth a read here.

It is much more rare to read a story about someone who has recovered after being placed on a ventilator. This honest testimony by David Lat from New York is sometimes disturbing but ultimately life-affirming.