Mount Nittany Health celebrates release of one of hospital’s first COVID-19 patients
More than 50 Mount Nittany Medical Center employees lined the hospital’s hallways Friday to celebrate the discharge of one of the hospital’s first COVID-19 patients.
The man, whom the hospital did not identify at the family’s request, was reunited with his wife of 46 years after receiving treatment for 31 days.
“I can’t thank all of the doctors and nurses at the hospital enough. I appreciate them so much,” the man’s wife said in a statement shared by the health system. “I’ve always believed in miracles, but I’d never had one in my life until now.”
The man was in a coma and on a ventilator for about two weeks. Four days after being removed from the ventilator, he was “sitting up in a chair, looking at the mountains and breathing on his own,” the health system said.
“I had all but given up at one point, but we had so many people praying for us,” the man’s wife said. “...The care, concern and effort given by everyone at Mount Nittany was just so wonderful. Praise, prayer and patience got us through. I am so full of gratitude, just so thankful.”
There have been 106 cases of the coronavirus in Centre County and 50,957 cases in the Keystone State as of noon Tuesday, according to the state Health Department.
The county has had one COVID-19 death, an 89-year-old man who died at Mount Nittany Medical Center on April 16.
It is unknown how many Pennsylvanians have recovered. The DOH does not receive reports when patients are discharged.
The man’s discharge is a “significant milestone” in Mount Nittany Health’s history, President and CEO Kathleen Rhine said in a statement.
“Although this event is certainly an important recognition of the patient’s successful recovery, it is also a time to recognize the ongoing commitment and dedication of our team members who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rhine said. “The celebration of his discharge is evidence that our health system and team members remain prepared to offer the best available COVID-19 care to members of our community.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 1:58 PM.