My Battle with Covid-19

Read about my personal experience fighting against Covid-19, the challenges I faced, and the lessons I learned. Discover the physical and emotional toll of the illness and the impact it had on my life.

The first time I had the Covid was in early 2020. No one knew what it was. I was sick for 6 days and had many of the symptoms we came to realize later were common amongst those infected. There were no tests at the time but shortly thereafter they were doing antibody test in Floyd so I went there and tested positive for antibodies.

I had done one of my radio shows the night before I got sick and went bar hopping in Blacksburg. After folks began to find out out about Covid and that I ad had it, many were angry with me and felt that I endangered them in some way. Three years later, we know that everyone was going to get exposed, masks don't work and the vaccines may have done more harm than good. Even though many of the people had good intentions, fuck them.

After that illness the antibodies from that infection held me until the Omicron came out in 2022. I spent the next two years after the irst illness living life normally and hanging out as best I could with my friends at bars and the occasional music event. Every week folks would report they had covid and were off work for a couple of days but we all continued to party and there was not much spread from these events.

then I went to WV to do some work at an elementary school. I was waiting in the office when this little girl came in looking for the nurse. When I saw her I knew she was very sick. Two days later, so was I.

It started with the symptoms everyone talked about, fever feeling sick fatigue, runny nose and so forth. It subsided after 5 days but them two days later I had difficulty breathing. I woke up like normal feeling pretty bad. Decided to take a show to see if I felt better. After I finished washing off, I couldn't get out of the shower. My wife had to help me get out and dressed.

We called the doctor and he said to come in and be checked out. After I got dressed, my blood oxygen had dropped to 64 so my wife rushed me to the hospital. They gave me lots of oxygen but I kept getting worse. It was difficult to eat anything because each time I took off the oxygen, my oxygen levels dropped so they put the mask back on.

after a few time being disappointed my being unable to eat, I would grab the Muscle Milk from the tray and chug it first. This kept me going during the stay.

After several days they asked me if i would consider being intubated. I had read that most people who were intubated did not survive. I resisted it but the desire to breath soon overcame my reluctance. I agreed to consider it and they said they were going to transfer me to Roanoke Memorial. Hospital. This was around 8pm. At 11 they cam and started to prepare me for the move.

Two medics appeared at my bedside with a gurney. A male and female. I noted to the female as we were walking down the hall that she was wearing an unusual medic suit. She replied that it was a flight suit just as we exited the hospital and I saw the Helicopter. It was a long and cold flight...do not recommend, 1 star. I know I needed it and I appreciate the team that got me to the hospital in one piece.

Upon arrival, they took me into intensive care, removed and replaced all the various appliances attached to my body, cut my hair and beard and started running tests on me. I passed out since it was around 2am by then.

In the morning my team of 7 or 8 doctors, nurses and administrators showed up around 9, at least that's when I woke up and noticed. After some discussion, it was decided that I would be intubated since my oxygen was continuing to drop. They came in with a bunch of equipment, introduced me to my surgeon and anesthesiologist and that's the last thing I remember until I got to UVa Transitional Care Hospital a month or so later.

It was Groundhog Day...