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A 52-year-old Florida father of six is now recovering after his wife and family contacted 169 hospitals before finding life-saving care for his severe case of COVID.
Robby Walker’s wife Susan told CNN in early August he was “in urgent need” of ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) treatment, but “all beds [in nearby hospitals] are cared for by COVID victims who are also “treated”.
She explained that COVID infections “have spread like wildfire” among her unvaccinated extended family after a July 4 rally.
On July 25, Robby, who had been hospitalized, consented to be intubated on a ventilator. “He cried and just told me how much he regretted not having been vaccinated, and he begged me to go get the shot,” recalls Susan, sharing that she was vaccinated by the following.
RELATED: Dad urges vaccinations after son’s appendix explodes while waiting to enter crowded Florida emergency room
Susan said when doctors informed her that Robby was unlikely to survive, she “didn’t accept him” and went on a mission to find a hospital that could accommodate ECMO treatment. In August, she told CNN, “We searched every hospital from South Florida to North Florida,” and soon she and her family members contacted 169 hospitals to no avail.
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But when Susan shared her plea for her dying husband’s life-saving treatment on CNN, Connecticut doctor Dr. Robert Gallagher saw the show on Facebook and wanted to help.
“I just clicked on it and looked at it and… it was pretty compelling,” Gallagher said at the point of sale.
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While still intubated, Robby flew a medical flight from Florida to Connecticut. Susan said of the transport: “It was kind of my Hail Mary because if I hadn’t taken the risk they just wouldn’t have had any choice but to leave it there and fail his organs one by one. “
After 22 days, Robby was removed from ECMO treatment on September 2, CNN reports. He lost almost 50 pounds. while in hospital and began physical therapy.
Robby told CNN on Thursday that he “couldn’t be prouder” of his wife, calling her “my hero” for saving her health. Now Robby has a strict policy on unvaccinated visitors: “We talked about putting a sign on the front door: ‘If you’re not vaccinated you can’t come in. We will talk in the yard. ‘ “
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