WACO, Texas — On April 25, the Ascension Providence staff joined together in celebration when patient David Guel was discharged. Guel is the fifth COVID-19 patient discharged from Ascension Providence.
"When they were clapping me out of the hospital, I was like, 'Gosh, I wish I could talk to each and every one of you and thank them personally,'" Guel said.
Guel and his wife Lauren tested positive for COVID-19 in March. While Lauren's symptoms remained mild, David's breathing began to suffer. He was rushed to Ascension Providence on March 25.
"We're germophobes," David said. "We use hand sanitizer all the time. We're doing this and that, so I don't get 'why us??"
David's condition got worse, and he was placed on a ventilator for 17 days. He said during the first weeks in the hospital, he felt extremely loopy and nauseous.
"I don't remember a lot of those days, and at some point my body crashed," David said.
During his time in the hospital, David was not allowed to have any visitors. While the physical toll of the virus was demanding on his body, he said the hardest part was not being able to see his friends and family.
"All these people are thinking about me," he said. "All my family members and friends are thinking about me and praying for me, but I have no idea in the sense that they are not physically able to be there."
Because she could not visit him, Lauren called the doctors and nurses every day to check in on him. She said they offered to pray with her and constantly offered encouragement.
"Every day there would be a small victory a small step that she would have to hold onto," David said.
Those small steps eventually led to a recovery. David said he would not wish his experience on anyone.
David was released from Ascension Providence on April 25, exactly one month after he was admitted. He will now go through physical therapy as he continues his rehabilitation.
"It's a matter of life or death for some people," Dale said. "It may not be for you, but it is for some, and I'm one of those."
