Positive COVID-19 patient Luke Davidson of Chatham. March 28, 2020. (Photo via Facebook)Positive COVID-19 patient Luke Davidson of Chatham. March 28, 2020. (Photo via Facebook)
Chatham

COVID-19 patient speaks about his journey and care

A Chatham man who tested positive for COVID-19 said this virus is no joke and is focusing on getting better.

Luke Davidson, 38, wrote on Facebook he was advised by CK Public Health on Saturday that his test came back positive and added the lady on the phone was extremely nice and very easy to deal with.

"We spent a lot of time going through timelines and people I’ve come into contact with, which were only three people. My father, sister and my buddy whom I went to Nashville with, all of whom are doing fine and do not show any symptoms," read the Facebook post.

Davidson said he continues to improve and get better.

"In order for me to leave the hospital, I have to have two negative COVID-19 tests 24-hours apart from each other. So let’s go and get healthy baby!" he said.

Davidson realized he might have COVID-19 when he read a post of Rudy Gobert (the first NBA player who tested positive for COVID-19) mentioning he lost his sense of smell and taste.

"As I read it, I immediately got a bit scared thinking to myself, OMG I have COVID-19," said Davidson.

He said he is in good hands in the COVID-19 quarantine area at the hospital.

"All of the staff are fantastic at what they do and the service they have provided me has been stellar," added Davidson.

"I’m isolated in my own hospital room but I’m getting messages from friends all over the world. Just amazing! I was really amazed in how my story was shared so many times and how far it’s reached."

Davidson said his fever finally broke on Friday and the nurses were giving him Tylenol every four hours because his temperature was at 102 for days.

"I definitely had a fever for much longer but I don’t have a thermometer at home and wasn’t taking anything for a fever," he said. "So I’m glad the fever is gone. My breathing is still not where they [would] like it. I’m still connected to oxygen, with four-line extenders so I can walk all around my big room."

He said his nurses told him they were 99 per cent sure the test would come back positive because he checked off all the boxes for both primary and secondary symptoms.

Davidson said he now feels he has become an advocate "for this horrible virus that is killing people".

"You don’t have to be in your later years of life to get this. I am living proof of this as I just turned 38 five days ago," he added. "It is so important that we adhere to isolation rules and practice social distancing. I’m sitting here in my hospital room, pleading with you, please take this serious. You don’t want to be where I am. We will overcome this but it will take time, so use that time wisely and be safe."

Davidson is thanking all of his supporters for their love and for offering to drop off groceries for his family who is stuck at home.

"You have no idea how much that means to me," he said.

He said the last week has been a rollercoaster with constant fever, aches all over, loss of smell and taste, and feeling dizzy when getting up from sitting. Davidson called EMS when his symptoms got worse and three paramedics showed up. He said they were unbelievably professional as they brought him to the hospital.

"They were weaving in and out of traffic on Friday afternoon, sirens blaring. The third EMS person was driving a Ford Explorer and was stopping traffic as we went through every red light. It honestly felt like being in a movie," said Davidson.

He said emergency department personnel worked on getting his fever down when he got there and hooked him up to oxygen because his levels were too low to breathe on his own.

He described the COVID-19 tester kit as a seven inch "thin dipstick" that they shove up your nose and spin around.

"Felt like it was tickling my brain! Not a fun test," he said.

Davidson said he was sweating profusely as his fever broke and his doctor wanted to keep him at the hospital for a few days to monitor his breathing because breathing for some positive COVID-19 patients can turn from bad to worse quickly. He added the doctors and nurses at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance are amazing and have been "nothing but good" to him.

"Be grateful for everything," he said. "I will beat this."

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