When a Retiree’s “Covid‑Free” Plan Backfires
Madam Wong Lee Tak, a 65‑year‑old retiree from Singapore, found herself nursing a fever‑hot disaster after a misguided attempt to dodge COVID‑19 with an unapproved trick.
The Ivermectin Incident
Prompted by a chorus of church friends who swore the mRNA shots were “against God,” Madam Wong took four 3 mg tablets of ivermectin – a drug meant for parasites, not viruses – over two days. The first dose was on Thursday, but it was the second day that sent her spiraling into a medical emergency.
- Excruciatingly high fever: 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) and joint inflammation.
- Vomit‑storm fireworks: she “vomited violently” after a bite of oats, which turned into a dramatic, watery spectacle.
- Medical intervention: taken to Sengkang General Hospital on a Friday, where she remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Her daughter Vanessa Koh explained that despite her mother’s refusal to swallow the pills, the frantic “I drove her in a car” atmosphere began to feel like the worst kind of family drama ever.
Family Tensions Over Vaccines
Vanessa’s family had been trying months to convince Madam Wong to get vaccinated. They clashed fiercely when her mother denied an mRNA shot, fearing divine judgment.
“We had a lot of quarrels because she didn’t want to be vaccinated,” Vanessa said. “It put a huge strain on our family as she’s a sure‑hit if she gets the virus.
After the heated debates, Madam Wong finally opted for the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine on September 23 – a decision that, while less efficacious than the mRNA options, was still better than nothing for a woman battling diabetes and high blood pressure.
Hospital Stay & The Real Culprit
Initially, the family suspected the fever was a side‑effect from the Sinopharm shot. The truth, however, was that the ivermectin had turned Madam Wong’s stomach into a personal amusement park.
Vanessa recalled the moment when her 1‑year‑old son sensed something was wrong: he refused to approach his mother when she was languishing on the bed, giving the family a short walk to reality. She also admitted that her father has helped keep the child safe while she was away.
“Today, he kept going to the study room, hoping to find her sitting there,” Vanessa mused, capturing the bittersweet attempt to save a life that was slowly fleeing, one cough at a time.
Takeaway
While the church’s concern for God’s judgment was understandable, we should keep in mind that the safest and most protective tools are often the ones our doctors actually recommend. Let’s stop turning injectable provisions into a “vote of faith”.
<img alt="" data-caption="Ms Vanessa Koh with her one-year-old son, and her mother, Ms Koh (second from right).
PHOTO: Vanessa Koh” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”1d56acb2-5d91-490e-b204-9a7f9bf906d4″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/ctfamily041021.jpg”/>
When Ivermectin Became the Unwelcome Guest at the Family Table
Picture this: Ms. Koh was checking on her mum, and instead of the usual mom‑eats‑bread‑pie scene, she found a trail of weird texts that hinted her grandma was running a covert pill‑shop.
The “Deal” That’s More Than a Phone Peep
One church buddy—maybe hoodie‑clad—directed the grandma to order 1,000 ivermectin pills for a cool $110. The order came with a big, polite “Please don’t sell outside a clinic” sticker, so you’d think a doctor had already checked the list.
What’s This Tiny Pill About?
- Not your run‑and‑buy OTC magic.
- Medicine for lice, heartworms in pets. Think of it as a pet’s vitamin on steroids.
- In 2020, some research suggested it might save you from Covid‑19—but WHO says the evidence is still a “friends‑with‑benefits” kind of deal.
The Double‑Edged “Faith” Bombshell
Ms. Koh’s mother, a true believer, hit the “buy” button nine times, stacking 9 boxes into her study room. She told her daughter that vaccines are “Satanic” and that the virus is a test of faith. A fellow church pal conjured up a message, “Let’s show Satan he can’t escape!” It felt like a gospel choir turned into a “herd of wolves” sermon.
When the Group Bosses Pull the Plug
After the scramble, the church admins decided to ditch Mom from Telegram and erase all her chats. The conclusion? “No more contact. Leave her humming in the silence while the virus plays its game.”
What The Church Says (and Doesn’t Say)
Pastor Edward Lim posted an update: “Keep the jabs; don’t take this stuff. Vaccination is the moral good. Trust the doctors.” He also quoted Archbishop Goh, who declared vaccination is the best way to protect everyone.
Ms. Koh’s Takeaway
“They gave her the pill, and now she’s stuck alone with a side‑effect saga,” she said, posting the whole ordeal on Facebook—though she didn’t actually link to the text screenshots. She shared her mother’s messages and reinforced that no one from that group ever reached out again.
Bottom line: a handful of folks mixed “faith” with “medicine,” left a mother scrambling with an unprescribed drug, and turned a modern pandemic into a tragic family story.
