This young man spent nearly 5 months in the hospital, fighting for his life after contracting COVID-19. He said he doesn’t remember much of his 149 days in the hospital because he was on a ventilator, spent time in a coma, and had a tracheotomy to help him breathe. The severity of the disease led to an extended hospital stay where he was cared for in the Intensive Care Unit with severe COVID pneumonia and neuropathy that required a tracheostomy to help him breathe. Last month, the 30-year-old man was finally released from the hospital. Now, he only needs supervision for transfers, wheelchair mobility, and walking 40 feet at a time with a walker or cane.
According to Tower Health, on Dec. 31, 2021, the 31-year-old man from Pennssylvania, Cory Heckman, was taken to a hospital after he contracted COVID-19. Cory’s family said that the severity of the disease led to an extended hospital stay where he was cared for in the intensive care unit with severe COVID pneumonia and neuropathy that required a tracheostomy to help him breathe. Nearly 5 months later, the lucky man is finally home with his family.
While in the hospital, Cory became very ill and almost died. the doctors reportedly told his mother to start planning his funeral, WFMZ reports. The young man doesn’t remember much of his 149 days in the hospital because he was on a ventilator, spent time in a coma, and had a tracheotomy to help him breathe.
The 31-year-old man reportedly spent 114 days in the hospital fighting for his life. He was then transferred via TowerDirect ambulance to a rehabilitation center, where he spent an additional 35 days. When he arrived at RHRW, the young man was completely dependent on others for care, required a lift to move from one place to another, still had his tracheostomy for breathing, and needed a feeding tube.
Unfortunately, he had to relearn how to eat, bathe, and walk. “I couldn’t do anything. They taught me how to live. It was pretty much the coughing that worried me the most because it was pretty much nonstop.” the young man said.
Last month, Cory was finally released from the hospital. Now, he only needs supervision for transfers, wheelchair mobility, and walking 40 feet at a time with a walker or cane. Cory left without a tracheostomy and is back on a general diet, no longer needing the PEG tube. Cory says he is very grateful for all those who helped him recover.
“He’s proof that miracles happen. He was not going to survive and here he is, sitting here next to me, which is amazing,” Cory’s mother, Alice, reportedly told WFMZ-TV.
One of the doctors at the hospital, Dr. Debra Powell reportedly said: “I thank Cory for sharing his story to help educate the community on how severe COVID-19 can be, even in young patients, when they become infected. I encourage everyone to receive their COVID vaccination and booster shots as they are critical and help discourage serious illness and hospitalization.”