Kevin

Aug 16

I was the first person in my town to get Covid. I ended up in the hospital,
but the doctors didn’t believe that I’d caught the virus, and there were problems with the tests.

I was the first person in my town to get Covid. I ended up in the hospital, but the doctors didn’t believe that I’d caught the virus, and there were problems with the tests. The nurses, though, took my condition seriously and made sure that I was isolated and that anyone who cared for me wore PPE. But four days after I was admitted, my Covid test came back positive. Then, everyone paid attention.

I have a long-term heart condition that left me more vulnerable to the disease. Doctors tried several experimental drug treatments, but they didn’t help. People were dying around me, and I wondered if I was going to make it. Then the doctors wanted to connect me to a ventilator. I’d heard horror stories about people being on ventilators, in comas, and alone in their rooms. I didn’t want to die like that.

My family was furious with me for refusing.

I kept hallucinating. One time, I saw 3 men come into my room trying to kill me. Thinking they were real, I asked the nurses to keep them away.

I’ve never experienced such pain. My head and body ached, my scalp burned. Finally, I began to throw up, and this started the process of my body clearing itself out. Three days later, with only supplemental oxygen, I began to recover.

On Friday, March 20, 2020, I was secreted out of the hospital and dropped off at the back door of my house. I was told to quarantine myself, not to leave the house, and not to let anyone in. Then Covid went wild in Warren, and I was forgotten.

Exhausted, I lay there, unable to move. After a day, I felt better and got up to visit the bathroom. After a week, I could sit up and feed myself. Then I knew I was going to get better.

I’ve done some bad things in my life, and I wonder if catching Covid was spiritual Karma coming back to me.

Covid has taught me to relax more, appreciate all I’m able to do, live life my way.

I’m hoping we can all come together as a country and unify to stop the pain and suffering that Covid is causing.

Read More Covid-19 Survivor Stories

“You’re not going to die!”

Being shot, I mean, it was scary, but I can get back to normal. But dealing with COVID, there’s gonna be some long-term effects, you know.

“At that point, I'd already had it for six weeks and lost 50 pounds. I can't eat, really. I'm really weak. I can’t really walk. If I walk 10 feet, my heart rate jumps to 150-160.”

She counted down 5,4,3,2,1 then she doesn't remember anything until she woke up 35 days later.

Why me? Why did I survive?

“I surrender to it and say, “OK, if it's my time, it's cool.” And I was just fine with it. I just made peace with the fact that if I'm going to die, I'm going to die. I've had a life well-lived.”