ST. CHARLES COUNTY (KMOX) - An 18-year-old has gone from scoring touchdowns to laying in a hospital bed in a matter of weeks after contracting COVID-19.
Elijah Johnson, who leads the Fort Zumwalt East High School's football team in touchdowns scored this season, is currently battling the virus in the ICU at St. Louis Children's Hospital, according to multiple reports. He was airlifted to the downtown clinic on Sunday, about two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19 and losing his sense of taste and smell, according to KMOV.
His mother, Cynthia Johnson, says they took multiple trips to hospitals in St. Peters before he came to Children's. He's now on a BiPAP machine to help him breathe.
“Without it, he cannot sustain his own air. (He’s) very lethargic. His fever has been all over the place,” she told KMOV. “Also, with him being laid up for days, he’s also acquired blood clots in both legs. He has pneumonia on top of the COVID. So, it’s hard."
She says he son made his own decision to not get vaccinated, but had expressed his desire to finally get the shots about week before he contracted the virus.
Related
"It's too late now. I just want to help the next person because this doesn't have to happen. I would tell those who haven't gotten the shot to please, get vaccinated," Cynthia said.
The 5'8", 230-pound running back and linebacker for his football team doesn't have any underlying health conditions and he's never been hospitalized.
On Tuesday, she says he finally sat up in bed and was able to wave at her.
"I believe my son's gonna make it. We're gonna get him well," Cynthia said.
Related
© 2021 KMOX (Audacy). All rights reserved
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Follow KMOX
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram