网曝门事件

When she opened her eyes, Pauline Morales, found herself laying in a hospital bed, unable to move or speak. She was hooked to several machines, including a ventilator which was helping her breath.

She stared at the sliding glass doors to her room inside the Intensive Care Unit at 网曝门事件 Health Hanford, thinking she had been in a car accident.

鈥淚 thought I was just in the hospital overnight, but then was told I had been there for 32 days. I couldn鈥檛 believe it!鈥�

Morales was the hospital鈥檚 first diagnosed COVID-19 patient on March 24, 2020.

鈥淚鈥檒l never forget when they told me I had COVID-19. I told the nurses and doctors, 鈥榩lease don鈥檛 let me die.鈥欌��

Because of the effects of COVID-19 and her underlying conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure, Morales suffered a stroke and lost all feeling on the left side of her body. Her kidneys were also affected, and her organs began to shut down.

鈥淪he had a 10 to 15% chance of survival but pulled through a lot of complications. It鈥檚 amazing she鈥檚 alive,鈥� says Dr. Deanna Oliver, the hospitalist who cared for Morales on the first and last day in the ICU. She also was the first face Morales remembers.

鈥淭here were many doctors and nurses coming in and out, but I will never forget her face,鈥� says Morales. 鈥淚 had such great, compassionate care. Everyone was so good to me. They would help me dial my cell phone and put it to my ear so I could call my family.鈥�

Though her loved ones couldn鈥檛 visit, due to safety precautions, the 48-year-old recalls her sister creating a picture board with images of Morales鈥� husband, three daughters and seven grandchildren.

鈥淚 think it was my will and faith in God that helped me pull through,鈥� she says. 鈥淕od wasn鈥檛 ready for me yet. He wanted to use me as a tool to help others.鈥�

On May 2, 2020, nearly 40 days after arriving to the hospital, Morales was able to go home.

鈥淎ll the nurses and doctors lined up in the hallway and clapped and cheered me on, as they wheeled me out of the ICU,鈥� says Morales. 鈥淚 remember crying and crying.鈥�

One year later, the Selma native still has slightly scarred lungs, but no longer needs an oxygen tank to breath or a wheelchair or walker to get around and is regaining feeling in her left thumb and left foot, following her stroke.

鈥淚 still have the rubber spatula that the hospital鈥檚 physical therapist gave me to keep my hand straight, because when you suffer a stroke, your hand cramps up near your chest,鈥� she says.

Morales describes her experience as a journey. She had to re-learn how to eat, walk and talk. She continues to see a cardiologist and pulmonologist.

鈥淐OVID-19 is no joke,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a virus and it takes a toll. It鈥檚 like a rollercoaster.鈥�

Once she makes a full recovery, which she鈥檚 determined to, Morales says she鈥檚 going to donate her antibodies to help other COVID-19 patients. She also hopes to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, when it鈥檚 available to her.

*Morales would like to thank the following 网曝门事件 Health Hanford staff who provided her with such compassionate care:

Alfredo, Andrew, Bree, Claudia, Cindy, Dolly, Eddie, Gaby, Irene, Jake, Jess, Joanna, John, Lauren, Laya, Lee, Leslie, Liana, Manda, Meg, Rosie, Sierra, Stephanie, Steve and Sylvia.