Hansie Louw

Author, Coach, Entrepreneur

Covid-19 : How to survive when I get it?

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It happened in four days after diagnosis of Covid-19

Yesterday (Tuesday) I read a note of a friend that explained how quickly one of her colleagues died as a result of the Covid-19. “She passed away at 12 o’clock (Monday). She was diagnosed last week Thursday … and had been self isolating and medicating… Last night (Sunday) she was rushed to hospital after struggling with shortness of breath. Knowing my sis I’m sure she gave a big fight, but sadly it was not enough….”

I was very sad when I read this note. It was a big shock to my friend and to me who recognised the lady from a picture although I was not close to her. What was so threatening is that it took only four days since diagnosis. Of course the lady must have been ill before that time already.

survival t shirt
I Survived Covid 19 T Shirt

So I asked myself this question – will I die?

I am ready to go. Of course I do not want to go now. There are so many contributions that I still want to make to help transform the world, but I am ready.

What is my chance of death statistically?

In South Africa between around 4 people out of 10 000 tested are positive. Out of 10 000 people that will amount to 400. From those that tested positive for the virus around 3% passed away (as calculated on May 18). In my equation this comes to 12 people. My chance is 0,12% to pass away. This differs from country to country and area to area.

What other aspects could take me into a higher risk category?

If I am over 60 (closer to 70 and beyond) there is a bigger chance of death. If there are the so called co-morbidity causes then the chance is even higher. That means other illnesses that could contribute to an earlier death. These are hypertension (high blood pressure) (8%), diabetes (9%), chronic respiratory disease (8%), cancer (8%) and cardio vascular disease (13%). The percentages indicates the number of deaths from research of one segment of Covid-19 patients. That means if 100 people get ill then your chance is 8% of passing away if you have hypertension. If you have two or more of these illnesses then of course the risk gets bigger and bigger. In New York 75% of all deaths came from people with an underlying health issue as at 13 May 2020. That is a very high figure!

 

What kills a person when you get Covid-19?

 The main amount of deaths come from ARDS : Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. The fluid keeps your lungs from filling with enough air, which means less oxygen reaches your bloodstream. This deprives your organs of the oxygen they need to function.

In short: you cannot breathe.

What could I do to mitigate the risk of death?

One of the important aspects is to make sure that you get more vitamin D – the sun helps a lot for this!

 

Equally important is to make sure that your levels of Zinc and Selenium intake is sufficient to assist your body to fight the virus. Vitamin C is important too.

 

There are many conditions that you cannot make a change to over a short period of time. On the other hand, if you are overweight or obese, you could measures in place to deal with that immediately. It is not uncommon to lose 8% to 16% of your weight in a given month if you do it correctly and safely. That will immediately make a difference to hypertension if that is weight related. If you start to eat differently and fast differently (or start fasting for the first time) it will make an enormous difference.

If you are ready to make some changes to your life and you want more information, please complete the form below.

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your children are dying, Hansie

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“Your children are dying, Hansie”, is what she said to me. I did not see it like that until she phrased it, but that in fact is what has happened in the past year. This mother of one of “my” children that passed away verbalised what was in my heart and mind. It was hidden away because, I guess, of the pain that goes with this. A bit less than a year ago her daughter passed away, in her 30’s and then the end of the year a dear friend, 35 passed away. I was in a conversation with this mother about some aspects of a property of her daughter that she had asked me about.

I was a father to them

This started a thought process for me leading from thought to thought. Both these young people did not have a father that could be a father to them. I was probably the closest to a father that they would ever experience. In both instances I had an inkling or thought that I should see them shortly before their respective deaths. In both cases I did not follow through on that well enough to be able to see them. I knew that they were not well, but I did not expect to get the message of them passing. In my mind’s eye I would see them at my funeral and not the other way round. It does not seem to be the norm. I am much older and I should go first ….

I will be a father

They were not  my biological children, but in many respects I was a father to them. Reflecting on our relationships again, I could have done more. We never know how much time we have left to assist another or to speak into their lives or the help them.  We do not know how much time we have to teach them things or to model things or behaviour to them.

Fatherlessness is a challenge – get “children”

Worldwide, but in particular in South Africa as well, we have a challenge with “fatherless”ness. There is still time for you to be a father (or mother) to someone else. I also know that I want to do more for my own children, but there are many more children that you and I will be able to impact.

One of the questions for today is: “if my child has completed his schooling and training and he is without a job, how could I assist him or her?” Now you may say that this is not your problem, but let us assume for one minute that you “adopt” three children without a father as a father. Nothing formal through the adoption channels, but formal through commitment to assist them, what would you do? You find that they do not have “jobs”. How will you assist them? Will you help them find opportunities? Will you help them by providing not only a small amount of capital, but also financial intelligence?

my dad taught me

My challenge to you today for this year and for the decade ahead is this: BECOME A FATHER!

If you could impact the life of one person you would impact the lives of hundreds of his children, grandchildren and grand grand children and beyond. As a father you may impact a nation. Pray about this and let’s do it!

Bellville

19 January 2019

AA, BEE, Apartheid – no Biblical base – reconciliation

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There is no Biblical base for affirmative action. Likewise there is no Biblical base for broad (or narrow as it plays out) economic empowerment. Reconciliation is Biblical and is the answer. As Christians we have been totally quiet about this for years and it is time to change this position. It does not matter where you are in the political spectrum in South Africa – if you are a christian you cannot defend this position. There is nothing new – there was no Biblical base for apartheid either, but many of the clergy leadership argued that there was at least an explanation (if not a principle) for that in Scripture. The church is quiet about the importance of this whole process and so is the ACDP (political party in South Africa).

entry to medical school
same person .. different application

The Bible talks about Restoration and Restitution. There is little room for this when there is “legislation” that is promoting to take care of it. The argument is that BEE and AA will adress the inequalities of the past. The Bible is full of the the principle of Restoration. You cannot legislate “racism” out of a  person’s mind. You may punish him for racist remarks, you may fine him for racist behaviour, but you cannot legislate his soul and mind – you have to win in that area. Similarly we cannot legislate “reconciliation”. Reconciliation is the Biblical process – that of restoring “friendly relations”. That is the also the action of making one view or belief compatible with another. To do this we need to talk. This is how our former state president described this aspect:

“In the end, reconciliation is a spiritual process, which requires more than just a legal framework. It has to happen in the hearts and minds of people.”

Nelson Mandela
Forgive
Forgiveness is a weapon
The Father of our Rainbow Nation said that reconciliation is a spiritual process and it is just that. The Father of all nations (the God of the Bible) says that we should reconcile with everybody. If we remember that someone has something against us, we should go and reconcile. He is not saying that I must go and reconcile if I have something against another – “So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.” (Matthew 5:23,24 – Good News Translation – GNBDK). Interesting that the verses after that talks about reconciling with your accuser when he takes you to court, otherwise you will pay the last cent!
So let me just turn to the churches and christians in South Africa. Let us forget politics for now. One of the functions of the church is to enable reconciliation in the country. It is not only there to enable it, but it is there to drive it, to motivate it and to mobilise its members to reconciliation. There are two parties to the process. To a large extent both parties are angry. There is anger because of apartheid and the legacy of apartheid. There is anger because of AA and BEE and the legacy of that. Contrary to what the Bible teaches, the young upcoming next generation is still punished. The punishment is on all sides of the colour spectrum.
Let me take the following example of reconciliation. You have a truck that you use in your building projects. You have a government contract and you are making a good living out of it. I ask you and you lend your truck to me on a particular Saturday as I want to get some sand on my property and it is much cheaper if I do it myself. I use your truck, but a crazy driver hits me in the borrowed truck as he is running a red light. There is damage of more than R150 000 to your truck. I am innocent, but I am responsible as I was using your truck. I come back to you and  I apologise. You accept my apology. However, you cannot work with your truck on Monday morning because of the accident. You lose money in the process. You will recover your losses from the guilty party (the other driver).
The situation of course is different if I am guilty of the offence. If I did not stop at the red light and I caused the damage, then I am responsible and guilty. Now it is not enough to apologise. Now it is also a requirement for me to ask for forgiveness. When I have asked forgiveness and you have granted it, you do not have a claim of the R150 000 (or the subsequent loss) anymore on a spiritual level. (Extending forgiveness means that you release the claim that you have against me – you release the right that you have to enforce justice).  At the same time I , however, have the love obligation to settle the damages and to put you in the same position as you were on the Friday afternoon before I borrowed your truck.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation crticical
So in South Africa we need to ask and extend forgiveness as christians. We cannot get reconciliation before we do that. We cannot get reconciliation if we do not hear the stories of ordinary people, of ordinary christians. We still live apart in our worlds almost two decades after apartheid was dismantled legally. We cannot expect the politicians to lift BBE and AA until we have demonstrated aptly that we are putting everything to work to reconcile and make restitution. Making restitution is so much more than what BEE or AA could achieve.
There is an enormous emotional relief when we ask for forgiveness and embark on the process of restitution. There is also enormous relief when we grant forgiveness and work together as brothers and sisters. There is much hatred or bitterness around in South Africa. There is much love and forgiveness needed. Love is action and not a feeling. If you do not act, you do not love. If you do not love, you are not a christian. If your church does not advocate this forgiveness and reconciliation and active love, then in the words of Sir Richard Branson, “Screw it, let’s do it”.
Let us go beyond AA and BEE. Let us go the route of Biblical love. Let us build South Africa. Let us reconcile!
19 March 2017

together