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Medics in hospital (Credit: Andrey Khludeyev)
(All pictures: Andrey Khludeyev)

By Andrey Khludeyev

When Covid-19 and quarantining started all around the world, I saw some publications highlighting medics’ risky work in the hospitals, and they were all very impressive. While not been a pro journalist (and even if I were), I realised that I would never had a chance to get onto ‘the front line’ and photograph such a story. Turned out I was wrong, I didn’t have to get a permission – I went there as a patient.

At first, I thought I had overheated in the sun, and that my high temperature was just for one day. But no, the next day it was even higher. I didn’t lose my smell or sense of taste, just my hairs became as sensitive as the nerves in my teeth; it was painful to touch them. After a week of a flu-like stage, high temperature suddenly went and I felt just fine. All seemed to be normal. My tests didn’t show Covid, but I realised that it felt something like it.

X-ray tests of the lungs were made, and that showed a multi-segment double-sided pneumonia. So, that day I was immediately hospitalised. The doctors said that if I was at home I would not make it.

Chaika II camera (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
The Chaika II camera Andrey took with him to hospital

Needless to say, I was lucky. Not because I had a chance to take some photographs, but because I had a chance to survive. The fact I survived is thanks to the great people, real heroes, who risk their lives to heal us and let us live.

When I packed my belongings to take to the hospital I had no time to think much about what camera to take with me to the hospital and why, so I just grabbed the first camera I saw, a half-format Soviet camera Chaika II, with Ilford HP5 Plus, exposed at ISO 1600. And while the choice was a sort of random, I don’t regret it. It’s a small camera that doesn’t scare people, they don’t pay it much attention at all, plus it allows you to make 72 shots on just one roll. And it did it well.

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I must state here that I did not have any particular plans for photo-shooting. I did not know if I would allowed to shoot there, I didn’t even know how many days I would live. My friend recently died because of Covid-19, and it’s a pretty scary situation when you feel yourself just fine, but you know that it all could change in a next minute. But what I found it the hospital let me drop that inner panic and forget about how dangerous my situation was.

There were medics, doctors and nurses. They lived there and had two-month contracts and eight-hour shifts, all the while wearing their white overalls and masks. After 15 minutes the condensation came on the inner surface of the masks. These people took care of us 24 hours a day. They gave us all necessary medicine, fed us, took tests all the time. It was a job they were paid for, but I can’t imagine the amount of money worth the risk to their lives.

I soon realised I was faced with real heroes and real acts of bravery. I saw they saved lives in real time, I saw patients who came in a very bad state became get better day by day. And that all, medical treatment, food, were given without charge to patients, all for free, no matter what age and condition you are.

One of my neighbours was 82 with diabetes and heart problems; it didn’t matter, he had all necessary treatment and got better; he was also sent to private clinic after that to get heart healing treatment for free. That all truly amazed me. I soon realised that not documenting it would be a crime.

Medic portrait (Credit: Andrey Khludeyev)

Medic portrait (Credit: Andrey Khludeyev)

Medics posing (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Medic in ward (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Medic posing (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Two medics sitting (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Nurses and personnel who gave us injections and all other necessary treatments. Real people. Amazingly they found a time for laughter and emotions. They helped us all a lot.
Patient recovering (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
My neighbour is feeling fine – laying on belly is required for 8-14 hours a day, to spread the lungs
Medical staff cleaning up (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Clean up time, twice a day
“I don’t care much about money,” she said, ” my father works, my brother works, I will find a money if I need, I’m here not for money.” Then, when I made a photo, she took her phone and said, “Look, I’m pretty in a real life!” And I thought that they are all so pretty right as they are, just like angels.

Medic in patient room (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Medic giving peace sign (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
While personnel loved to be photographed, they were very angry when I did it during procedures
Hospital corridor at night (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Night time disinfections
Man making phone call (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
A call home to say that he is getting better
Men watching smartphone (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Watching parade on smartphone
Lunch arrives (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Time for lunch. Rules are rules.

Hospital corridor at night (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Medic resting at night (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Selfie in bathroom mirror (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Making a hospital selfie (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Man on balcony (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Breathing fresh air, and checking the arms after many injections

Medic checking patient (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)

Patients leaving ward (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Final tests and we are good to go home
Leaving hospital (Pic: Andrey Khludeyev)
Out of the ‘hot zone’ after 10 days

After about 10 days, tests and x-ray both myself and my neighbour had improved a lot and there was no need to stay in the hospital anymore. That was two weeks ago and I’m still fine. Recent tests and doctor visits say that I’m almost healed.

I can’t fit all the story and all the photos I made, both on film and smartphone, so I’m going to make a book where I will try to show more and tell more about these amazing people and those days I will never forget.

And I want to say thank you, to all the people who risked their lives so that I, and many others like me, didn’t die. They let us live.

Thank you. God bless you all.

 

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Andrey Khludeyev
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Lorraine Healy
2 years ago

Congratulations, Andrey, on staying alive and for the presence of mind of grabbing a great camera, putting some great film and pushing it to give you “room to manouvre”—it gave you that grainy, timeless feel of almost the 1918 Influenza Pandemic images! Keep getting better!

Peter Lee
2 years ago

Great story from a personal viewpoint Andrey and those photos take on a very special meaning as the experience was so personal.Is articles like this that are so rare these days and taking i the little half frame camera would not have been on many peoples minds if they were sick.Well done.

Michael Kaplan
Michael Kaplan
2 years ago

Absolutely remarkable. Andrey, this is quite a document and I felt that you handled the situation with professionalism and care. The photographs are inspirational and haunting at the same time. Thanks for providing this and so glad that you are on the road to recovery.

Olly Hitchen
Olly Hitchen
2 years ago

What a great story! Well told, and illustrated extremely well with the photos. I’ve never really considered a half frame camera – until now. Thank you for documenting and publishing your ordeal. I was totally gripped by this article!

Harry Machold
Harry Machold
2 years ago

Andrey, I am deeply impressed here and with everything..
With your own fate, with the situation at the hospital, with doctors and nurses..
And with the way you have taken these pictures here with this little camera.
No other one would have been able to safe the atmosphere and your inner state better than this little thing..
The drawbacks of this camera are crowning your work, Andrey…
Stay safe and healthy..
And share more with us in the future..
With all of my best wishes fro you
Harry

Jon Campo
Jon Campo
2 years ago

How wonderful. I love how the personality of your caregivers shines through in your photographs. Glad you made it!