A life-threatening infection to a local woman turned into a journey of recovery and faith. On March 12, the first case of coronavirus was diagnosed in Monroe County. That same week, Joyce, a 79-year-old Gates woman, began experiencing sharp pain in her back. “Wow” is what she said when recalling the intense pain she felt in her back. She went to the doctor and was given Tylenol for pain and a lidocaine patch for her back. She also had a fever, so the doctor tested her for COVID-19. “I really did not think I had it,” Joyce said. A week later, the test came back positive. Joyce has COPD, and with her compromised respiratory system, she carries a high risk of fatal complications arising from this virus.
“I became so weak I could hardly stand,” she said. Due to her pre-existing condition, Joyce was encouraged to go into the hospital for x-rays and blood work. She was released later that evening with orders to go home to recover in quarantine. Joyce experienced days, leading into over a week, of extreme fatigue, fever, and her most severe symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. “I did not want to eat anything, but I forced myself to,” Joyce said.
Recovering from this global pandemic illness in isolation was extremely difficult. “I would not have survived this if it was not for God,” she said. What made it harder was that her family could not come visit her. Being sick and alone in isolation is where Joyce says she learned in her weakness to put all of her trust in God. “My daughter Sue, from Hamlin, would come by and drop food off on the porch but she could not come in. I really wanted a hug and could not have one,” Joyce explained. Sue would blow her mom kisses from the front yard, Joyce tearfully recalled.
A few days after Joyce’s illness set in, her daughter Cindy also became ill. She was also tested and confirmed positive for COVID-19. Cindy lives in Greece with her husband and two teens and likely contracted the virus from the same place as her mom. Cindy’s husband also contracted COVID-19, but their children did not. Cindy’s son and daughter helped cook, clean, and sanitize the home while both parents were recovering. Both Joyce and her daughter said faith was a big part of their recovery.
Joyce and her family are members of Greece Assembly of God Church. “I cannot tell you how many of the Pastors and people from church called both me and my daughter to check on us,” Joyce said. A prayer chain was started and meals were delivered to Joyce and her daughter’s homes while they were recovering in quarantine. The prayers and support system the church provided helped the family fight through this serious viral infection. Cindy’s birthday was at the end of March. The church surprised Cindy and her family with a birthday parade in front of her home to help her feel celebrated and loved at such a challenging time. “They are the most loving and caring church,” she said.
Joyce, her daughter and son-in-law have all made full recoveries. Remarkably, Joyce recovered from what was a potentially fatal virus for her age and health complications. Recovering at Joyce’s age and compromised respiratory health could be deemed a miracle and by the grace of God, according to Joyce. Statistics have shown that being elderly and having other illnesses, especially respiratory illnesses, significantly increase the risk of dying from COVID-19. Joyce not only survived this virus but she never even spent a night in the hospital and was able to fully recover from her home.
“It is only because of God that I am still alive,” she said. Not only did Joyce’s health get stronger while she was quarantined fighting a potentially fatal virus, but so did her faith.
When asked what advice she would have for others during this unprecedented time of a global pandemic, she said, “Don’t be afraid. Keep your hope and trust in God. Use this time to strengthen your faith, and wash your hands!”
