An Iowa man was finally released from the hospital on Wednesday, after a 204-day battle with COVID-19.
Brian Van Gundy was admitted to the hospital in September 2021 and dealt with a number of health issues, including a heart attack and stroke, among other things.
"He got put on a ventilator. He had a heart attack. He had a stroke. He had a hole in his lung. He had blood clots," Olyvia Van Gundy, his daughter, told WOI-DT. "He went through a lot."
Kimberly Van Gundy, his wife, was also hospitalized for a short period of time after contracting COVID-19 around the same time as her husband. She spoke to KCCI and told them about the amount of support they received from friends and family during the difficult time.
"People have just really wrapped themselves around us and loved us as a family. It's been really incredible. If I have to say anything positive or good came out of this — it's just really seeing the goodness in a lot of people," Kimberly Van Gundy said.
The timing of his release was perfect -- one day before his teenage daughter's birthday. She expressed how lucky the family feels to have him back home after everything they've been through.
"It's very nice to have him home. It has been almost seven months since he's been home, and the not knowing and everything — the roller coasters — it's been a lot to go through so I'm very happy for him to be home," Olyvia Van Gundy said.
Van Gundy exited the hospital in a wheelchair and was surrounded by hospital workers cheering him on for making it through the long battle. He will still need to go through therapy to help regain his strength to walk, and his ability to talk and breathe on his own.
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