Photo Courtesy of NBC News
A Roswell, New Mexico man, is finally home after spending over a year-and-a-half in a local hospital after catching COVID-19 in September 2020.
Donnell Hunter was released from Kindred Hospital in Albuquerque last week. His extensive battle with the virus left the fortunate man on a ventilator for almost a year. Officers from the Albuquerque Police Department escorted him home. Neighbors, family, friends and supporters welcomed the father and husband home with open arms.
Donnell couldn’t put in words what it meant to be alive and reunited with his family.
“How does it feel to be home,” a reporter from NBC affiliate KOB asked during a Zoom interview with the Roswell man.
“Ohh man, it’s a– well. I can’t even put it into words.”
Donnell’s experience with COVID-19 has forced him to relearn everyday tasks some people take for granted.
“I lost usage of my hands, of my arms, of everything my legs, so I had to wait for all that to come back and do a lot of rehab speech therapy learn how to eat, learn how to swallow I had to learn everything all over again,” Donnell revealed.
He also missed crucial moments in his life.
“I met my grandson for the first time. It was amazing. He’s a year now, and he acts like he had been knowing me all his life, so as soon as I woke up this morning, he was the first thing on my mind.”
Donnell also disclosed that he would dream of returning home during his lengthy hospital.
“Because when I was in the hospital, I had many dreams that I was home, and I’d wake up and, like, I said, ‘It was all a dream.’”
Although Donnell is reunited with his family, his road to recovery is long and tedious.
His wife, Ashley, expressed that she will do whatever is necessary to assist her husband.
“If it takes a year to get back to normal, we will be here every step of the way. If it takes five years or even if he never gets the same, we are happy.”