Newsletters

From Symptoms to Coma Ryan's symptoms started on Friday, March 13. He noticed a cough while at work and by that evening, fatigue had set in. Next came the fever, which he said fluctuated the following days. "The cough was so distracting, and I couldn't sleep and didn't want to get out of bed," Ryan recalls. Ryan decided to visit an urgent care on March 20 — a week after the onset of symptoms. He was tested for COVID-19 and referred to the emergency department. Doctors told Ryan he was experiencing respiratory failure and immediately admitted him to the hospital. Eventually, he was put into a medically-induced coma for 14 days and needed a ventilator to stabilize his oxygen levels. It wasn't until he came out of the coma on April 4 that he learned he did indeed have COVID-19. After he woke, he remained on the ventilator for six more days. Compassionate Care "I remember the ventilator was so uncomfortable and I was coughing so much," Ryan says. "My care team would play Hawaiian music for me at night, talk about my family, and do anything to make me feel comfortable, like putting lotion on my feet or washing my hair. They were so attentive. You have to be a special person to do this job — especially in the condition I was in." His care team also helped his family stay connected while he was hospitalized. Due to COVID, hospitals had a no visitor policy, especially for patients who had tested positive. While the safety measure helped reduce the virus spread, it was difficult for family members of patients. Caregivers arranged for his wife and sons to read to him over the phone and replay old Washington State University football games on an iPad while Ryan was in a coma. "For my family, they were just scared not knowing," he said. "They were getting updates every five or six hours and it was so tough not knowing if things were going well or not." The Ride to Recovery Now, Ryan is back at his home with his family in south Spokane. His lungs are clear, yet he has quite a bit of healing to do. He said his priority is healing and spending as much time with his family as possible. "I always fall back on, what if I didn't make it," he said. "The more I think about it, I want to focus more time on my own health, as well as family. That's my mindset right now." Ryan and his family spend most of their time at home and wear masks when they need to go out. They plan to enjoy spending time together—camping, playing corn hole, swimming, fishing and of course, biking. ■ If you think you have been exposed to COVID‑19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. PROVIDENCE.ORG/HEARTBEAT 7 Providence has cared for our community in many ways and through many crises since the Sisters of Providence arrived in Spokane more than 130 years ago. We will continue to carry on their legacy of compassion and service. Here are ways you can help: Caring for Our Community Consider an online gift to the Providence Health Care Foundation. A gift to our Area of Greatest Need Fund gives us the flexibility to respond quickly to urgent and unforeseen needs during, and after, this critical time. The Patient Assistance Fund helps patients and their families with travel expenses, medications, utility bills, meals and other basic necessities. The Employee HELP Fund assists Providence caregivers during times of financial crisis. Your gift will ease the burden of these caregivers, who are needed on the front lines. Watch Ryan's video as he leaves the hospital and reunites with his family. "I wouldn't be here, but through the grace of God and the team at Sacred Heart. They did an amazing job of supporting and caring for me."

• Cover