Healing from COVID-19 one breath at a time

Retired electrician Lloyd Young and his wife Linda did everything they could to avoid contracting COVID-19. In the early days of the pandemic, they headed to their remote cabin on the Olympic Peninsula to isolate. Linda did the grocery shopping so Lloyd, who has COPD, wouldn’t be exposed. But then their worst fear came true when he developed a serious cough and fever. 

They made the trip back to Seattle, trusting Swedish would have the best tools and treatments to help Lloyd. He arrived in the emergency department at Swedish Ballard in late March and tested positive for COVID-19 that night after being transferred to Swedish First Hill.

Lloyd spent 19 long days in intensive care. “I could hardly see anyone’s face through their protective gear, but my doctors and nurses were so caring,” he says. Lloyd later learned that doctors told his family he had a 50% chance of surviving. Thanks to the hard work of his care team and a philanthropy supported trial of the antiviral drug Remdesivir, he was able to beat those odds and avoid going on a ventilator. 

“We’ve still got a lot of questions that are unanswered about COVID-19. Philanthropy can help us move forward.’ – George Pappas, M.D., Medical Director, COVID-19 Recovery Clinic

When Lloyd was discharged in mid-April, the whole floor erupted in cheers.

At home, daily activities left him winded, but with help from occupational and physical therapists from our COVID-19 Recovery Clinic, Lloyd began to build up his strength.

Now he’s is back to an active life—even re-wiring his house. To help other patients who are still struggling with COVID-19 symptoms, Lloyd made a gift in honor of the caregivers he credits with saving his life. “They were so wonderful, I wouldn’t be here without them,” he says.

Learn how your gift to Swedish can bring stories of hope, healing and wellness to our community at www.swedishfoundation.org.