Three years since his miraculous death-defying restoration Gregg Garfield, aka COVID Affected person Zero, returned to Windfall Saint Joseph Medical Middle in Burbank on Monday, Could 8, to thank the employees who nursed him again to life.
Garfield was given a 1% probability of survival when he was admitted to the ICU after contracting COVID-19 throughout a ski journey to the Italian Dolomites in February of 2020.
He suffered from collapsed lungs, sepsis, failed kidneys, low blood stress, acute respiratory syndrome, pulmonary embolism and the lack of a number of fingers and toes. He was in a medically induced coma for 31 days throughout which his coronary heart flatlined on 4 separate events.
However on Could 8, 2020, after 64 days within the hospital, Garfield did what medical doctors had thought not possible: he walked out of the entrance door. And now, three years to the date later, he had the privilege of reuniting with employees as a very wholesome man.
“I received to go to each division within the hospital and see the entire folks that made that heroic effort that allowed my survival to happen — from the ER employees, to the ICU medical doctors, to my my bodily therapist — it was such an unbelievable day and second,” he mentioned on Monday. “It was additionally such a satisfying solution to have a good time Nationwide Nurses Week by strolling and exhibiting them what the fruits of their labor have produced.”
The return go to was additionally a stirring second for the Windfall Saint Joseph Medical Middle employees, who keep in mind watching Garfield beat the chances throughout a time when so many others have been perishing.
“We misplaced sufferers, all of us did, so to see any person that was that sick, that didn’t die, and walked out of the hospital, that was an ideal carry up for all of us,” mentioned Dr. Daniel Dea, a vital care pulmonologist who served because the quarterback for Garfield’s remedy within the ICU.
Garfield’s return go to “was thrilling, joyful, he’s like a good friend by now. It was improbable to see him again on the hospital once more.”
These very early days of the pandemic have been a terrifying time for hospital staff, as little or no was recognized in regards to the illness and the way it unfold. Garfield was one of many first COVID sufferers in America and the very first in L.A. County. On the time, Windfall Saint Joseph Medical Middle in Burbank was the one hospital within the area that will agree to simply accept a COVID affected person, Garfield mentioned.
“There are lots of people that risked their very own well being, particularly in that point when there was a worry that this (COVID) was going to kill anyone that received in touch with him,” mentioned Dr. Stephen Kishineff, who took care of Garfield within the emergency room. “Everyone who was round him actually was, on the time, involved that they have been going to contract this horrible sickness and produce it dwelling to their households.”
The heroism of hospital employees was not misplaced on Garfield, who has devoted vital time to advocating for hospital staff since he was discharged, and helped elevate cash for a $78 million new emergency room at Windfall in Burbank.
“This (healthcare) is a occupation that's so under-appreciated each financially and emotionally. They deserve loads of credit score that they don’t get,” mentioned Garfield. “I do know I'm right here as we speak due to them. There’s not even a query there for me.”
Garfield has additionally turn into a motivational speaker and seeks to encourage others together with his story. His restoration was a tough journey, however one thing he received by with nice tenacity and persistence.
“I needed to discover ways to chew and swallow and stroll once more,” mentioned Garfield. “At 54 years outdated it’s a really humbling expertise to be taught to do every thing once more.”
The day Garfield left the hospital his bodily therapist didn't assume an exit on foot was attainable. On the time, Garfield was being transported in a wheelchair as his nerves have been recovering from his 31 days in a coma. However the pure adrenaline of about 200 hospital staff gathering to cheer him on, and the enjoyment of being reunited together with his sister Stephanie Garfield Bruno and his accomplice A.J. Johnson, propelled him to his toes.
“It was in all probability one of the empowering issues in my life,” he mentioned. “I had a dedication to myself to not be wheeled out of that hospital.”
Right now, Garfield can do 95% of every thing he used to do, which implies plenty of snowboarding, climbing, and mountain biking. Save the partial lack of fingers and toes, he has no lingering well being results from his battle with COVID-19.
What he does have is a brand new outlook on life.
“It’s all about understanding how valuable life is. Day by day waking up is a present, so I don’t take it with no consideration,” he mentioned. “I've given recommendation to over 20 vital COVID sufferers who've handed away and it jogged my memory much more how fortunate I'm to be alive.”