COVID & Our Health
This is Part Two of a 4-part study I conducted in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Detroit, my beloved hometown, was ravaged by the pandemic; I felt helpless watching its impact. The study was my attempt to illuminate the humanity and spirit of my home using personal interviews.
A COVID-19 Survivor's Experience: Resilience, Recovery & the Importance of Movement
As a researcher delving into the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am consistently drawn to the individual narratives that reveal the raw, human experience of the virus. Today, I focus on a particularly compelling account from Dan Davis, a Detroiter who not only survived a bout with the virus, but also offers profound insights into the recovery process. His story espouses the importance of physical activity and the psychological challenges associated with this illness. Read his experience, told through his own words, and explore the crucial lessons for how we can approach recovery and support those who have battled COVID-19.
Onset of Illness
Dan’s experience begins on a seemingly normal Sunday. After a casual outing, he experiences a sudden onset of chills. Initially, he dismisses them and attributes them to seasonal weather changes; however, his symptoms escalate over the next few days. A mild fever emerges on Monday, then upgrades by Tuesday registering at 101.4°F. He initially uses ibuprofen to manage the fever but switches to Tylenol upon recommendation. These first few days are marked by a common theme of the early stages of the virus: a sense of uncertainty and an attempt to treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medications.
As a dialysis patient, Dan knows that a fever is the first sign of infection, so his dialysis provider recommends visiting the main hospital for testing. This moment marks a dramatic shift in the story, as the casual approach to his symptoms changes drastically. Upon arrival at the hospital, the reality of the pandemic becomes more visceral: a maze of tents, an uncomfortable nasal swab, and the surprising lack of protective gear among some staff in the emergency room. Dan's experience at the hospital highlights the chaotic environment and perhaps a lack of preparedness that was seen at the beginning of the pandemic.
Positive Diagnosis & Dan’s Descent
Dan's world is turned upside down when the doctor informs him that he has tested positive for COVID-19. In his own words, "My whole world came down". His immediate reaction is to reach out to his family, sharing his life insurance information, and expressing his love to close contacts. This is a stark illustration of the fear and grave uncertainty associated with a positive diagnosis. However, Dan then makes a critical choice: he decides to fight. He moves to a COVID floor where his condition rapidly deteriorates. Within hours, he loses the ability to stand, experiencing a dramatic decline in physical strength. The speed of the virus's progression is alarming, emphasizing its capacity to debilitate an individual very quickly.
Fight to Recover: The Power of Movement
Dan describes a challenging battle to recover from the virus. He is placed in a room by himself. Dan explains that the staff would call to ask if he needed anything, but rarely entered the room. Instead, they took his vitals quickly, and would leave immediately due to fear of contracting the virus. This isolation and lack of direct care are striking, further highlighting the fear and anxiety prevalent among healthcare workers at the time.
Dan’s physical state is dire. He struggles to sit up, experiences bouts of exhaustion, and feels a strange urge to use the bathroom which makes him weak and exhausted. This feeling leads to an important discovery, which is explained to him over the phone by his friend, Tim. Tim explains to him that the key to fighting the virus is movement. Dan is told that lying down can cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs, and that getting up and moving can help the lungs expand. With his friend’s advice, Dan embarks on a very difficult recovery path, characterized by incremental steps toward mobility.
Incremental Progress
We discuss the small yet critical steps Dan takes to recover. Initially, his legs are weak, he is off-balance, and he can barely pivot to sit in a chair. He is eventually able to sit up for increasing periods. He is also able to stand, at first with shaking legs, then he starts taking steps, first to the bathroom, then further. This is more than a physical recovery; it's a battle against the virus's attempt to keep him down, quite literally.
His progress is not linear. Dan experiences intense heat and exhaustion after movement. He also notes that the virus seems to amplify any underlying health conditions. This includes neuropathy in his feet, which he says feels like "fire". He emphasizes the importance of pushing through these challenges, viewing each step as "another day of life". Dan also recalls that while he was in the hospital, there was a lack of patient care and the medical staff were scared. He believes that because of this, many people did not recover. He believes that he was lucky to have someone to talk to who gave him the correct information to help him recover.
Lingering Effects & Psychological Impact
While Dan physically recovers, the experience leaves a significant impact. He experiences lingering symptoms, including a residual cough. He also grapples with the fear and anxiety associated with the illness. He is aware that his muscles have become weak due to inactivity and that this is a compounding factor in his recovery. The psychological toll is evident in his statements about the fear of being alone and the anxiety he experienced while in the hospital.
The Aftermath
“The road to recovery is still going to be long, but it’s as long as you mentally make it.”
The hospital abruptly discharges Dan at 1 am. He drives himself home, a testament to his recovery efforts’ effectiveness, but also an indication of the hospital's urgency to make room for other patients. Dan describes driving home with the windows down so he can feel the fresh air.
Dan is happy to be home, but soon experiences a new worry when his fiancée, Karen, becomes ill with similar symptoms. He now takes on the role of caregiver. This brings up fears of passing the illness on to loved ones and highlights the widespread impact of the virus. We discuss the many different opinions about the virus and its origins. Dan says that the experience taught him to be more open to other’s opinions and theories, and not to dismiss them because of his own logic. He also says that a lot of the fear that comes with the virus stems from the fact that people do not know very much about it.
Education and Advocacy
Because of his own health journey with COVID, Dan evolves into an advocate. He shares his story via social media and receives an overwhelming response, with many people asking about his experience and advice. Dan becomes a de facto source of information and support for others, a role he takes on with a sense of responsibility. He emphasizes the importance of sharing information and providing hope to others that they can also beat the illness.
Broader Implications
Dan's story is not just a personal narrative; it's a powerful example of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of movement as a crucial part of health recovery. His experience challenges the prevailing narrative of fear and helplessness, instead emphasizing the power of active participation in one’s own healing. It also sheds light on the need for a more empathetic, proactive approach to patient care, especially in the face of a novel virus like COVID-19. The fact that his recovery was largely self-directed because the hospital staff were scared speaks to a major problem healthcare delivery during widespread health crises.
Conclusion
Dan’s story offers a powerful lesson in the face of a pandemic. His account underscores the importance of uncoventional recovery methods like movement, and emphasizes the need to combat fear with proactive self-care. It also highlights the importance of community support, shared knowledge, and the ability to stay resilient. As a researcher, I am deeply affected by Dan’s narrative. It has been an invaluable experience that emphasizes the critical need to continue researching and understanding the long-term impacts of the virus.
** Researcher’s Note: Since this interview and the initial report’s publishing, Dan Davis passed away. I wish his family peace and comfort, and I remain grateful that I met him and was entrusted with his story. May God cover and carry his spirit on the journey home to Him.
