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Raleigh, North Carolina – Stanley McHenry, who describes himself as a “badass”, was an MP for County Durham for 31 years before a dangerous contact with COVID-19.
“It (the job) prepares you for almost anything that could happen, although I don’t know if I was completely prepared for it,” McHenry said.
The 66-year-old said he regularly takes three to four mile walks with his wife. They wear masks in public, maintain their social estrangement as much as possible, and practice regular hand hygiene. He does not know where he was exposed to the virus.
It was the week before Christmas when the first symptoms of a runny nose and mild fatigue appeared, so McHenry was tested for COVID-19.
A day or two later, he learned he had tested positive.
Brain fog and confusion set in. Shortly after, he collapsed at home.
“On December 24, 25, 26 and 27, I have absolutely no recollection,” McHenry said.
At Duke Raleigh Hospital, McHenry developed COPD and needed help breathing.
Her doctor, Dr Amal Youseff, said many people wait until symptoms get worse before seeking help. “The problem is, we don’t know who is going to make it soft and who is going to make it worse,” she says.
After four days in the hospital, McHenry remembers waking up. He panicked, pulling out his IV line and monitoring devices.
“I literally had no idea why I was there,” he said.
Once McHenry understood his condition, he struggled to adjust. He described it as “almost like a feeling of depression because no one can visit you there”.
After showing progress, McHenry was released from hospital on January 5 only to return six days later after another lung infection. In total, he says, he spent 11 days at Duke Raleigh Hospital.
During his stay he participated in a trial for Remdesivir.
According to Youseff, as is the case with blind trials, McHenry may or may not have received the drug that can help fight infection and provide temporary immunity.
The demands of the trial forced McHenry to wait 90 days before obtaining longer-term protection from a vaccine.
“So on March 31, I’ll be somewhere with a medical professional who will prick my arm. That’s my plan,” he said.
“No one should think they should be fighting alone (COVID-19),” Youseff said. “It’s a serious illness. Everyone should seek help when they have symptoms or at least are diagnosed.
According to Youseff, people who do not have a drop in their oxygen levels will be offered counseling by healthcare professionals and may self-quarantine at home.
If more severe symptoms appear, such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and especially if a fever is detected, she advises people not to wait for the condition to get worse. Seek immediate medical attention.
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