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Camarillo man returns home after fighting COVID for 90 days in hospital

Camarillo man returns from covid battle
A Camarillo man is back home after battling COVID-19 for more than 90 days

CAMARILLO, Calif. -- Lupe Herrera came down with COVID-19 back in April, and spent 90 days in the hospital, with 43 of those days in the ICU.

“The ventilator is only used at night,” said Lisa Herrera. “Your level of oxygen isn’t there yet but it is getting better.”

These are actual words straight out of a journal that was kept while her husband, Lupe, was hospitalized with COVID-19.

“It still hasn’t hit me but I know I am happy to be alive,” said Lupe Herrera.

He got sick in early April with flu-like symptoms. His wife, Lisa, took him to St. John’s Pleasant Valley hospital when he started having trouble breathing. He tested positive, but was sent home. A couple of days later they were back in the emergency room, but he was sent home again. The situation worsened, and eventually he was admitted.

“They called me to tell me that they had to put him on the ventilator or else he would not make it throughout the rest of the day,” said Lisa Herrera. “I mean when you have to put a DNR in place it's pretty critical.”

“They said they were going to put me to sleep for a little while, and all I know know is that 60 days later I woke,” said Lupe Herrera.

The Camarillo man spent 90 days in the hospital, including 43 in the intensive care unit.

“The hospital wasn’t that full with a lot of patients so they were able to attend to my husband the way that they needed to,” said Lisa Herrera. “If it was any other hospital where they were really overwhelmed then there is no way he would have been here today.”

Lupe was released on July 7th. He lost nearly 70 pounds, and is still recovering.

“I have a hard time breathing, getting nauseated, headaches, and I still don’t have my taste back,” said Lupe Herrera.

The family's message now? Take the virus seriously.

“I didn’t believe in COVID,” said Lupe Herrera. “Heard stories about people having it, but never believed in it until I got it. But now I am a strong believer, and it has changed my life. I got a second chance at life.”

“I would hate to see any other family go through something like this if it can be avoided,” said Lisa Herrera. “You just don’t know who has it, or you don’t know how bad its going to effect you because it effects people differently.”

Article Topic Follows: Coronavirus

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Senerey de los Santos

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