81-year-old 'miracle patient' recovers after 71 days of battling COVID-19
By:
WLEX Staff
and last updated 2021-04-05 14:44:43-04
LANCASTER, Ky. â After spending 71 days battling COVID-19 in the hospital, 81-year-old Joe Barker went home to find a dozen U.S. flags lining his driveway and his friends from the Kentucky Patriot Guard Riders cheering him on.
Barker was admitted to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, Kentucky on Jan. 21 after testing positive for the coronavirus. His condition quickly deteriorated, and he was put on a ventilator four days later.
âThe doctors gave us no hope,â said Peggy Barker, Joeâs wife. âWe just relied on our faith and thatâs what got us through. That was the only thing we had at times.â