Mother of local COVID-19 survivor: “This illness will find you even if you think it won’t”

“Nothing can really prepare you for seeing your child in that situation no matter how old they are. I can tell though I did not say goodbye, I told her she could do this, I told her to fight.”

Vicky Livesay was one of the first people to speak at a Ballad Health Press Conference on Wednesday as she shared the story of her daughter Angel. Angel tested positive for COVID-19 back on July 14th, and her condition worsened on the sixth day of her diagnosis, requiring hospitalization in the ICU and was promptly placed on a ventilator. A doctor told Vicky that Angel had coded three times after her initial arrival and most likely would not make it, in addition to her lungs completely white with COVID. Vicky talked of the prospects of potentially losing her daughter, who had no underlying health conditions prior to her diagnosis, but Angel’s condition started to show signs of improvements.

“We had our ups and downs and this has not been a fast journey as we were told earlier this is a marathon, not a sprint. Small steps at a time she began to improve and the amazing nurses always shared and celebrated with us,” said Livesay.

Vicky said after 16 days Angel was able to come off of the ventilator, and following a 38 day hospital stay, her daughter was able to be discharged. Angel continues to recover from her diagnosis and Vicky, seeing first hand experience of what the COVID-19 virus is capable of, shared this message with the region as cases of the virus continue to surge

“Number one, please pray for our healthcare workers, and number two, wear a mask, social distance, and be safe. This illness will find you even if you think it won’t,” said Livesay.

Photo Courtesy: Ballad Health Press Conference October 28th via Facebook