JBHF Donor Report 2020 | Page 7

A Joseph Brant Hospital Story : George Stroe
When George Stroe first visited the Emergency Department at Joseph Brant Hospital in late March , he had no idea the journey he was about to go on .
George had been experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 including a fever , worsening cough and difficulty breathing . Following the proper protocols , he was isolated , tested and admitted to the hospital for further care .
Within the first day , his condition worsened to the point where he required admission to the ICU , and the following day had a breathing tube inserted and was placed on a ventilator .
“ The reality is that I deteriorated very fast , in a matter of hours ,” he says . “ I would have died for sure if I wasn ’ t at the hospital with doctors around me who did all they could to save me .”
When he woke up , he was unsure of where he was and says he remembered his birthday , and that he was admitted in March but he “ had no idea was it April , was it May , was it June ?”
And two weeks ago , George , who was the first COVID-19 positive patient in the Hospital , the first to be admitted to the ICU , the first to be placed on a ventilator , was also the first to be discharged from the ICU .
Just over a week later , George was discharged from the hospital and still has no memory of his time in the ICU other than having high praise for the staff .
“ Everyone took very good care of me ,” he said .
After spending a month in hospital , George is relearning how to do certain things . While he can do most things unaided , he is relearning to write and type .
“ When I looked at my signature on my discharge papers I noticed how poor my handwriting looked ,” said George . “ But first and foremost , I ’ m happy to be alive . It ’ s a hell of a disease and I ’ m forever grateful .”
“ I would have died for sure if I wasn ’ t at the hospital with doctors around me who did all they could to save me .”
Donor Report 2019-2020 7