JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A lung cancer survivor beats COVID-19 after being in the hospital for three weeks.
“He answered prayers and I’m still here,” said Carl Schuck.
Carl Schuck is back with his wife, at least through phone and video chat. But the 72-year-old wasn’t sure he’d ever see home again.
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“Very lucky. Very fortunate to be here,” said Schuck.
Action News Jax reporter Amber Krycka talked to Schuck and his wife through video chat Wednesday. They’re both at home -- but Carl still has to isolate himself.
“I’m feeling much, much better than I did five days ago when I was allowed to come home,” he said.
Schuck said back in mid-March he started to feel sick
“The symptoms that I experienced was a lot of muscle fatigue, tired and no appetite,” said Schuck.
Schuck said it continued for a few days until his wife called the hospital. On the 20th of March, he went to the ER and was put on a ventilator and was sedated for two weeks.
At 5: “He answered prayers and I’m still here.”
— Amber Krycka (@AmberANjax) April 15, 2020
Today, I talked to 72yo Carl Schuck, who was on a ventilator for two weeks fighting #COVID19
“It was pretty scary.”
(His wife is top left corner - Carl has to isolate himself pic.twitter.com/K68BL8e7UK
“I really have zero recollection of that time,” he said.
“His oxygen requirement continued to worsen.” said Niraj Patel, a hospitalist at Baptist.
Patel said they were worried about Schuck’s progress at times.
“Carl’s case was one of the severe cases that we’ve had,” he said.
Doctors used hydroxychloroquine, zinc and azithromycin to help him fight the virus. On Friday, nurses and doctors cheered for Schuck as he was wheeled out of the hospital.
Schuck is feeling better now, thanks to early treatment, constant care, the determination of doctors and staff, and his own positive attitude. On Friday, nurses and doctors cheered as he was wheeled out of the hospital
“The staff were cheering, just a very rewarding feeling for me, totally unexpected,” said Schuck.
Schuck is a fighter. He’s proven that before. He beat lung cancer a few years ago.
“Everyone needs to be proud of what they’ve done for Carl. It was no small feat, and we will be internally grateful. He’s my hero,” said Laura Schucks, Carl Schuck’s wife.
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