Living Thru Covid19

One Person’s Story of Surviving the Pandemic

Spotlight on Michael Grigsby’s Powerful Account

By Jeff Salter

Intro

I met Michael several years ago, mainly through his wife Jennifer… who is a fellow author. Along the way I got better acquainted with Michael through his knowledgeable and gracious assistance with a couple of projects I had (within a hobby field we both share).

I dare say every citizen had a close encounter with CoVid-19 — whether it was your own experience or one/some of your friends or loved ones. In my case, that pandemic resulted in the death of my Sunday School teacher and caused the incredible set of severe complications in my new friend, Michael. Somewhat later, I had my own experience: 4 nights (5 days) in the hospital, followed by about three months of slow recovery while on oxygen most of my waking hours. [My own feelings of weakness, isolation, and helplessness during my brief and comparatively minor CoVid experience helped me comprehend SOME of what Michael went through during a condition that was exponentially worse than mine.]

During Michael’s lengthy ordeal, Jennifer kept his friends updated on his developments — most were setbacks, but there were a few positive signals along the way. One of the impressions I had formed from reading those reports was that some of Michael’s medical attendants had basically written him off. For example, there were lengthy stretches of his coma period during which his body was not “turned” — a standard protocol that SHOULD occur every hour!

The seriousness of his lengthy duration on a ventilator is difficult for laymen to comprehend. Here are Michael’s own words: “I was actually sedated (unconscious) while I was actually on the vent, physically attached to it for 74 days. It took almost two weeks beyond that before I was fully off of it, but I was only semi-awake during that time. Usually, people are on the vent for 5-7 days, and they come off or die; the max usually is 21 days.” Michael’s body weight went from 220 to 94 pounds during this ordeal.

When I learned Michael was “writing-up” his incredible story of survival, I knew I’d want to read it… as painful as I realized it would be. He published it in early March 2023 while he was still struggling to recover from the devastating effects of the disease (and treatments).

My Review

What most impresses me about this harrowing account is the faith and strength of Michael – amid all the fear and uncertainty and helplessness of his ordeal – and the tenacious, sacrificial support from Jennifer throughout the lengthy experience. Jennifer repeatedly ran into medical brick walls, at times being elbowed out of the loop… and existed in a near-constant state of exhaustion and frustration.

Michael’s account sets the stage with enough medical/historical information to acquaint the reader with what was involved in that global pandemic of late 2019 and early 2020. Along the way he pauses to explain (in layman’s terms) some of the medical procedures and treatments he was given.

But the heart of this account is the confusion, solitude, helplessness, and loneliness of the patient — kept away from loved ones and (at times) so isolated from even the medical staff that his basic needs went unmet. On the other “end” was Jennifer, struggling to obtain updates, fighting to be informed of the treatment plan, and even having to insist on certain aspects of Michael’s care that seemed to be ignored or overlooked.

I’m no medical maven, but it seems pretty clear to me that a considerable amount of the developments that seemingly nearly killed Michael… were “side effects” of the core illness and his hospital confinement. [One specific example seems to be a horrific infection that resulted from bed sores.]

For some 74 days, Michael was on a ventilator or “under” an induced coma — and it was terrifying to read his account of hazy periods when he wasn’t sure if he was actually experiencing something or merely hallucinating. As Michael mentions frequently in his text, certain phases of this experience are only able to be fully reconstructed through Jennifer’s detailed contemporaneous notes.

This account is stark, powerful, and painful to read — but ultimately uplifting because Michael DID survive and is slowly bouncing back… though not without considerable effort (and stubborn willpower). And if there is ever an award for “Patient’s Spouse of the Year,” it should go to Jennifer… for all she went through during this entire ordeal.

Michael’s Follow-up

After 5 1/2 months in the hospital – including the period from Dec. 6, 2020, till Feb. 21, 2021 on a ventilator and in a drug-induced coma – Michael began his arduous recovery process.

“I was discharged from the hospital in May 2021; at that time, I was unable to walk and was in a wheelchair, and it was questionable if I would ever walk again. I spent from May 2021 to September 2022 in Patient Physical Therapy. I have reached maximum medical improvement according to my Workers Comp. COVID destroyed my health and I continued to struggle every day. Health care and being able to maintain my current level is ongoing. I have enlisted a personal trainer to continue in my recovery. I have lifelong medical issues as well as the possibility of unknown problems in the future since the long-term effects of COVID are unknown. I will never regain full facilities. While I have had some progress, much of how long that will continue is uncertain.”

Blurb

Living through COVID-19 is one person’s story of the traumatic experience and prolonged recovery after contracting COVID-19. Michael’s body was severely ravaged, leaving him with pneumonia, blood clots, pulmonary saddle edema, and a pressure ulcer. The recovery was challenging, with overwhelming emotions and exhaustion. Michael’s story is a testament to survival, determination, love, and faith despite the challenges he faced.

Author Bio

Michael Grigsby is a 52-year-old graduate of Somerset High School, the University of Kentucky, and Eastern Kentucky University, holding degrees in Law Enforcement Technology, Police Administration, Corrections, and Security and Loss Prevention. Michael has spent most of his adult life in public service, beginning in 1993 and ultimately retiring from the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2018. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in southern Kentucky; his wife is an accomplished author in her own right, having authored several books on Kentucky Genealogy. He enjoys writing, playing chess, photography, and fly fishing.

In November 2020, Michael suffered a work-related exposure to COVID-19 that resulted in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and 74 days on a ventilator in a drug-induced coma combined with a five-month hospital stay. He is still recovering from the effects. Some of this may be permanent.

Buy-Link:

[JLS # 695]