‘I busted my butt’ to recover from COVID
“It began late July last year. I had the COVID delta variant. I spent 40 days in the hospital. It kind of freaks me out to talk about it.
“I started at Patients ER. Then I was transferred to El Campo Memorial Hospital. My lungs were in such bad shape, I was on a breathing machine 24/7. I was getting 32 liters of oxygen at one time.
“I was in ICU on a Saturday evening when a father came in to pray with me. I’ve seen enough movies to know when that happens, it’s not good.
“I lost a couple childhood friends while I was going through my stuff. I saw one of them while I was in ICU. So I was wondering, am I next? Those were very dark days. I felt like I was on an island, and I didn’t have a chance to get off.
“But I gradually started to improve. As I got out of ICU, I started saying, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to survive this. I’m going to fight this. And I’m going to win.’
“When I got transferred to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Pearland, I couldn’t do anything for myself. Basically, I had to start my life over again. I owe those guys so much. They helped me learn how to eat. I had to learn how to walk. I had to learn how to take a shower and brush my teeth — all the basic stuff.
“I busted my butt in physical therapy. My therapist would tell me, ‘OK, that’s it.’ But I’d say, ‘That’s not it. I’m going to do five more reps.’ I really pushed myself.
“After I finally came home, I had a relapse two weeks later and spent five days at Houston Methodist in Baytown. But since December 1st, I’ve been pretty good.
“COVID fog is a real thing, where you forget stuff. And I have some numbness in my right hip area. They say a lot of COVID patients have nerve problems. I also keep my little oxygen machine in the back seat, but I haven’t had to use it for about six months.
“Through the whole ordeal, I had a lot of support, especially from my three sisters and my two boys. And I had a lot of faith. My mom passed in 2018. So during the worst parts, I spent a lot of time praying to her. I also prayed to the man above. It was a tough deal. But I’m here today, and I’m feeling very blessed.”
— Jerry Michalsky
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