David March got coronavirus earlier this year, spent more than two weeks hospitalized in a coma on a ventilator, and had a five percent chance of survival.
March, a 51-year-old Hall of Fame bowler from Orange County, California, joined KNX 1070 News Tuesday to talk about his recovery and experience with the virus.
March said he realized he was sick at the end of March beginning of April. He recounted how he was sick, had a fever and other COVID-19 symptoms and then how his sister and brother took him to St. Jude's Hospital.
"They did a quick X-ray, checked my lungs and next thing you know they wheeled me upstairs. That was the last thing I remember. They put me into an induced coma on a ventilator for 18 days. I went in weighing about 255 pounds and after the 18 days of being on the ventilator, I lost 50 pounds when I finally woke up, I was about 205 pounds. I could barely lift my arms above my chest, muscle atrophy, very weak," March said.
David March
He said he went into a rehab facility and transferred to St. Jude's advanced physical therapy rehab program and was discharged on June 24. He said he is now in St. Jude's Neurological Rehab program, which he is doing twice a week.
March said he has to use a walker right now.
"My walking is the main thing right now - I walk with a walker. I am unable to walk on my own even though I've done a lot of therapy. It also gave me a small stroke which has affected the left side of my hands and feet. It's the walking it's one of the main things and I use a walker and I walk pretty much every night almost from my house down to the end of the street and back which is somewhere around 600 feet or so," he said.
March, who recounted he had underlying health conditions, said he doesn't understand how people don't think coronavirus is real.
"It's no joke. The mask - it's so you don't spread it to other people Everybody thinks it's about them getting it," March said. "Wear the mask. Be safe. Wash your hands. Stay clean definitely helps."
According to a GoFundMe page created in April for David, "On April 1st, 2020 David March went to St. Jude hospital with severe symptoms related to COVID-19. Less than 24 hours later, he was put on a ventilator fighting for his life. As most of you know David, you know how much a fighter he is (stubborn and all) and that fight and will to live slowly started his journey to recovery. After 16 days on a ventilator, he was able to come off of it without any severe deficits. "
The GoFundMe page set up for March has reached more than $10,000 of a $15,000 goal.
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