It was a very emotional day for a local family able to take their mom home, after a long hospital stay caused by COVID-19.
When Janet Shandor entered the hospital 60 days ago, she wasn't sure she would leave, but tonight she’s having dinner at home, with her family.
“What I went through is hard, look at me, catching my breath and everything else, but what I went through, I thought I thought I’m not going to make it,” says Shandor.
A large portion of her days in the hospital were spent in the ICU. “Her lungs were so debilitated from COVID-19 that she would have to take a breath in between each word,” says Danielle Saenz, Physiatrist at Renown.
The goal was to wean her off of oxygen, so she could go to rehab.
In rehab she re-learned to do things she needs in her daily life, like breathing. Janet knows how lucky she is, but also credits her medical staff and family support.
Those who cared for her say, to see the same person in the hospital for 60 days, isn't something to be taken lightly.
“I would encourage our community to be vaccinated to avoid severe illnesses that could end in long hospitalization or impaired function potentially for the rest of your life,” says Saenz.
Janet isn’t vaccinated but plans to get the shot. Doctors say her full recovery will take a long time,
but what's working well for her, is that she has a very positive attitude and a wonderful support system.
