'It's been a really long journey': Firefighter discusses struggles as COVID-19 'long-hauler'
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Updated: 11:42 AM EST Dec 28, 2020
Melanie Wingo
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Updated: 11:42 AM EST Dec 28, 2020
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>> IT’S BEEN A REALLY LONG JOURNEY. MELANIE: THE FIRE FARA GOT COVID-19 IN EARLY JULY AND FOR AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY 41-YEAR-OLD, THE VIRUS HIT HIM HARD. >> I GET A FEVER, 103 FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, EXTREME BODY ACHES, NAUSEA, COULDN’T EAT ANYTHING. EXTREME FATIGUE AFTERWARDS TRYING TO GET OUT AND WALK TO THE FRONT YARD TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD. MELANIE: THOSE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF COVID KEPT HIM OFF HIS JOB FOR STATION FOR A MONTH AND A HALF. HE’S BATTLED THE LASTING EFFECTS OF THE VIRUS EVER SINCE, HIS DOCTOR REFERRING HIM TO MERCY GENERALS REHAB CENTER IN AN EFFORT TO HELP HIM GET BACK TO PRE-COVID STRENGTH, CONDITIONING, AND ABILITY TO WEAR AND PACK AROUND 70 POUNDS WORTH OF GEAR. >> KNOWING IT’S GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD TO GETTING BACK TO FULL STRENGTH HAS BEEN DIFFICULT. MELANI AND MATT ISN’T THE ONLY DEPARTMENT MEMBER TO GET COVID-19. >> IT’S NOT DISCRIMINATORY. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO, WHAT YOU ARE. MELANIE: THE BATTALION CHIEF SAYS A FEW OTHERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS, POST DIAGNOSIS. >> IN OUR TERM, THE LON HAULERS , THERE’S A SUBSECTION OF PEOPLE THAT GET COVID THAT DO HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS. MELANIE: THINGS LIKE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DIZZY OR LIGHTHEADEDNESS, WHEN MOVING AT WHAT CREWMEMBERS CALL A FIRE GROUND PACE, HAMPERING THEIR ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOBS, A DIFFICUL REALITY FOR PEOPLE IN THIS LINE OF WORK. >> WE DO THIS JOB BECAUSE WE LOVE IT. WE LOVE HELPING PEOPLE. MELANIE: MATT IS USING HIS EXPERIENCE TO REACH OTHERS. >> I WEAR ALL MY GEAR TO PROTECT MYSELF, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO A FIRE. MELANI PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM THE COVID UNKNOWNS IS EASY TO DO AND COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR OWN HEALTH OR THAT OF LOVED ONES. >> IT’S A ROLL OF THE DICE TO RECEIVE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU WHEN YOU GET THE VIRUS. AND THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS WEAR A MASK AND WASH OUR HANDS AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES TO PROTECT YOURSELF SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE THAT CHANCE. MELANIE: MELANIE WINGO, KCRA 3 NEWS. WALTER: RIGHT AFTER MATT CONTRACTED COVID, SELF-ISOLATED SO HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS WOULDN’T CATCH TH VIRUS.