Jason’s Covid-19 Journey

If you don’t believe in God’s miracles, this story might change your point of view!

We both knew that if Jason ended up with Covid-19 it would not go well. With that being said we let our busy lives interfere with our intentions of learning all we could about the Covid-19 vaccine. Neither one of us really felt safe getting the vaccine, and there were so many stories both positive and negative, that we just kept putting it off, and sticking with our instinct of not getting it. Knowing how easily Jason can get sick, I’m not sure why we didn’t pursue our own research and find good hard facts to support our choice of not getting vaccinated. Do I think that this case would have been milder had he been vaccinated, maybe. I think that is something that we will never know. However, after being in the hospital struggling to live for three days, Jason asked me to get the vaccination, and shared that what he was going through was so terrible, and he didn’t want any of us to ever have to go through anything like it. So I did, no questions asked. I did some research and was vaccinated while we were here at the hospital in the first few days, prior to the ventilator.

On December 30 Jason took a home covid test because he felt tired and was maybe having some chills. He went home early from work that day and rested. We visited the Emergency Room on January 2 because he was feeling so poorly, and his fever had been so high, for too long. He was not admitted at this time, and was not treated with the new monoclonal antibodies. He was given some medication for nausea, and an inhaler to help his lungs, and something to help his cough. He was given some fluids, and a good dose of Tylenol to help with his fever and dehydration. I will say honestly, it seemed that this ER Doctor was upset with us for not having been vaccinated. He literally seemed to be angry with us. We were told that there is no magic cure for Covid, and we just should have been vaccinated, and then we wouldn’t be in this situation. It was very unprofessional, but we weren’t arguing with him, we just needed help. He did have a positive covid test while we were here in the exam room. We were sent home to recover at this point.

The next day, Jason continued to feel worse. This is the day he became more nauseous, and had a lot of vomiting. His fever continued to be high, and his body aching and just feeling miserable. Using Ibuprofen and Tylenol every 2 hours wasn’t even helping the fever at all. He was still feeling just as bad the following day. His cough worsened, became painful, and was making it hard to take breaths or to speak. After our first experience with the Emergency Room, Jason did not want to go back. We used our phone doctor service to see if we should be heading in or not. It’s so hard to tell when it’s time to go. The phone doctor said we better just head in to the ER since his i-watch oxygen saturation was reading low. Trying to honor his wishes not to go to the ER we went to the Immediate Care Center. He was in distress trying to breathe by the time we got into the waiting room. The nurse told us that it was too late to come in and that they were too full to see the patients that they had. I asked her to please help us, and she brought a sensor out to the lobby and checked his oxygen saturation level. By this time it had dropped below 90, and she said if we came in they would transfer us by ambulance to the hospital.

Back to the ER we headed. We waited about five hours to be put into an exam room. During that time it was too hard for Jason to sit up, so he slept on a hard bench in the entryway. Things moved a little quicker once we were in the exam room and after about 2 hours we were beginning the admittance process, to the med-surge floor. By the time he was settled into the hospital room and being treated with oxygen and meds, it was 4:30am. I was able to run home and take care of a few things, and I was back by 8am when visiting hours started. This was a very stressful time because the nurses on this floor are given so many patients to care for. I think our nurse was also taking care of seven or eight other people! I felt like I was working to keep Jason alive! I was constantly monitoring his Oxygen saturation, and he could not keep it above 90 without proning, or laying on his stomach. We were making sure he was in this position, using the breathing tool which was very difficult for him, and moving his arms and legs to avoid getting blood clots. He had an ultra sound to check his legs, and a cat scan as well to check for blood clots in the lungs, and it was mostly clear, but hard to read because he had been coughing so much and moving that it wasn’t clear. Unfortunately Jason’s alveoli in his lungs had mostly collapsed. These are tiny air sacs in the lungs which allow for rapid air exchange. It’s where the lungs and the blood exchange Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide during breathing. The breathing tool we were to use is supposed to open these alveoli back up and help them function properly. Jason was also coughing so hard during this time that he actually had passed out a few times. The doctor gave us some very strong cough medicine for the cough and a mild blood thinner to fight off any chance of blood clots. Jason had also been using a nose cannula for supplemental oxygen. The rate was continually being raised to try and keep his oxygen saturation above 90. He just couldn’t do it. I was constantly hunting down nurses to let them know that his saturation alarm was going off, and he wasn’t able to keep the number up.

As things continued to decline, Jason was asked for consent to do whatever was needed to stay alive. We had one rock star nurse while we were downstairs here. She was determined to keep Jason out of the ICU, and off of a ventilator! She worked so hard, staying on top of everything to ensure he was able to make it. Unfortunately when her shift ended, things went downhill overnight. Then, the morning nurse didn’t come in until almost 10am, which meant Jason didn’t get the meds he needed until then. I talked with his doctor early this morning, and he had shared he may be concerned about an infection. He also told me that he was reserving what he called a super drug for treatment if there were to be a rapid decline. How it works best in that moment right before needing the ventilator, and that if he used it too early it wouldn’t be effective.

Jason was really struggling in his room, with little ole me, the worst nurse ever, trying to save him! Our nurse didn’t seem to be very motivated at this time, and I felt I was chasing her down for help. I had Jason doing his breathing tool, proning, and doing all we could. Jason just looked defeated, and so tired. I finally asked the nurse to call the doctor. He came quickly, and said he wanted us to move to the Progressive Care Unit. Here, he would get better care, more oxygen, and have access to better personnel and equipment. He also would be closer to the ICU if it was needed. Once we got upstairs to the room, I was asked to wait in the waiting room until they had him settled. It wasn’t 10 minutes and a new doctor walked out to talk with me. He took me aside and said, it’s not an emergency yet, but it’s urgent, and we need to put Jason on a ventilator. Wow, my world stopped for a minute. Everyone was telling us so much about how getting on the ventilator would be a bad thing, and not everyone survives. In fact, I believe it’s about 50/50 for survival. This was a very scary moment for Jason and I. I was allowed to go back into the room to talk with him very briefly, but he had an oxygen mask on and it just looked so overwhelming to him, such a hard moment. We said our “goodbyes”, not knowing if it was the final time, or what would happen next. I’ll never forget the look on his face or the sweet words he spoke to me, even in his distress.

Going on the ventilator meant moving to the ICU. So, for the next four hours, I waited in the waiting room and called family members to let them know. I wasn’t alone because our family is amazing. We had such a large crowd gathered that we actually caused a scene with Big Nate, the security officer. He is a sweet man, who needed us to follow the rules. We were able to see Jason briefly when they rolled him past us to get from the progressive care unit over to intensive care. That was tough on us all, especially our kids. I did get to talk to the doctor, and he let us know that Jason was stable. He told us to expect a roller coaster ride for the next week or two. He has high hopes for him, as he is young and healthy.

Once I was able to see Jason in the ICU room, after the initial shock of all the things, I actually felt a bit of peace. He was so tired, and had been trying to breathe for so many days, and it was hard. He seemed to finally be able to rest, and recuperate some. Even though everything that he was going through was a lot, just the level of care and caution that was being given in the ICU, I knew this is where he needed to be. These nurses and doctors are amazing, and work so hard. There was also a prayer chain going on outside during this time, friends and family who came together to lift up a man in prayer, a man that is so loved in his community. It was very touching, and amazing.

So, this is where we still sit, in the ICU. This makes day number 21 in this room. Three weeks can fly by when you are trying to fight for your life. The doctor wasn’t kidding about the roller coaster, which sucks because neither Jason or I enjoy roller coasters! I’m not going to list all of the things that have gone on in here, the ups, the downs, they have been tremendous. There have been many days when I thought it was the end, that I thought we may have lost this fight. There have been doctors tell me they don’t expect Jason to survive, that NO ONE that they have treated has survived in his circumstance. I told him, Jason is always the one to do something that no one else can do. He is always the anomoly, so why should this time be any different! I NEVER lost hope, I never gave up, and neither did he! We sit here still, and continue the fight. I have had a peace about me during this all, because of what I feel is my childlike faith. I know I’m not a child, but I am a child of God, and it never falters. Some have asked how I remain so calm, and collected during this time. It’s not me, it’s always been Him, his light shining through me. I want to be like the brightest fire you’ve ever seen, displaying His goodness through my life, my actions, my quiet demeanor. There is a purpose in all of this, but we don’t always get to know. God has a plan in mind for us all, and we must be still and listen.

On one of these darkest days, of bad news, and declining numbers, our community came together for this gentle giant. The word was spread, and they came by the dozens. Those who love Jason, me, my kids, our family, our school, our business associates, our whole community. They all came at one time to form a circle and fill this hospital parking lot. I bet there was 150 people here, to lift up one man in prayer. I have never felt so loved, and so appreciative. People from all walks of our lives came together for one purpose, to send up prayers for Jason’s recovery. It was absolutely amazing. I told him I felt a miracle coming. So many people praying, churches praying, communities, families, individuals, all across this country. I have been touched by the outpouring of love for this man, and for our family. I have been amazed. I would answer a hundred texts or calls a day to share news about our journey. Each and every thought and prayer, kind deed, dinner, childcare, rides, all of it means more to me than anything. I am humbled by the kindness that has been bestowed upon our family.

This journey isn’t through, but we have received some good news today! Over the last two days there have been some major improvements in Jason’s progress. His numbers are improving so fast, that this afternoon the Doctor shared that we may be one or two days away from exubation! This after the previous diagnosis, is so utterly amazing, and I am so grateful! Today, Jason has been able to look at me, and see me! He has been asleep for 20 days! I was so happy to see his eyes, and to see he could follow simple commands, answer yes and no by nodding his head, and following our movement with his head. I feel hopeful, and excited. He has fought so hard, and it’s finally paying off. I hope and pray his improvement continues, and the next few days will bring a lot of positive change in the right direction, the direction of healing.

I will update as things progress, so feel free to check back here whenever you need. I felt it was important to let all of our wonderful friends and family members be updated, to show that their care and concern has not gone unnoticed. I apologize for not updating sooner, but I wasn’t ready. I feel compelled now to share, and as I learned a few weeks ago, when you feel the nudge to act, move your feet, and it just might make a difference in someone’s life.

Thank you all for the continued prayers, it’s working!