The last time Dr. Jeffrey Huml treated Barbosa, he was even unconscious; COVID-19 forced him into a coma for six weeks.
Barbosa said his entire body was shut down and the virus nearly killed him on several occasions.
‘They told my family to say goodbye three times. They said they would disconnect me, ”he said.
But Barbosa survived and is on the long road to recovery.
“I am amazed. This is truly a miracle,” said Dr. Huml from Northwestern Medicine.
While Barbosa has some relatives in the western suburbs, his immediate family – including his wife, two children, and his parents – are all in Mexico. They were unable to visit him during the nearly four months he was in Central Dupage hospital.
Barbosa is 25 years old, had no health problems yet, and his doctor said his case should serve as a warning.
“Young people need to take this very seriously. People are dying from the virus every day,” said Dr. Huml.
Barbosa was released last August, but still has to check into the hospital regularly while dealing with the aftermath of the virus. He hopes to get the vaccine as soon as possible, and he hopes to see his family.
“When I woke up, the first thing I thought about was to be there for them,” he said.
At its peak, the Central DuPage Hospital treated 111 COVID patients. Now the number has dropped to about 25, but doctors said it’s important to remember the threat of serious illness or even death.
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