Tears fall as 25-year-old coronavirus patient recovers, leaves Fort Worth hospital
Wilifredo “Willie” Merlin-Montoya wept Wednesday afternoon as he got hugs from his family just outside of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he was reunited with his brother.
After all, Merlin-Montoya, one of the first patients at the Fort Worth hospital to be treated for coronavirus, had just seen his family for the first time in 42 days after fighting and recovering from the disease.
“I just got so emotional what with the support of the hospital and my family,” the River Oaks resident said Friday in a telephone interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as his voice quivered. “I almost lost my life.”
Merlin-Montoya, who donned a mask, was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon amid applause and cheers from the staff at Texas Health Fort Worth.
In Tarrant County, more than 2,200 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Friday. Sixty-nine people have died, and 551 have recovered, according to Tarrant County health officials.
As of Friday, more than 200 Tarrant County residents are hospitalized with the disease.
Texas Health hospital staff members called Wednesday an emotional day for Merlin-Montoya, who went to the emergency room more than a month ago with symptoms that included shortness of breath and a high fever.
“We were surprised how quickly he went from speaking with us to needing immediate care,” said Kelli Long, manager of the medical surgical progressive care unit at Texas Health Fort Worth.
Merlin-Montoya recalled becoming a little ill on March 18.
“It was like the flu, and we all thought that it would go away in a few days,” he said. “But I had body aches that I had never felt before.”
Within days and after arriving at the emergency room, Merlin-Montoya was diagnosed with COVID-19. He doesn’t remember much about his 42 days in the hospital because he was sedated much of the time. He was on oxygen.
“My system couldn’t fight it off,” he said.
He was intubated for 23 days and received convalescent plasma therapy, a treatment for patients with severe respiratory damage caused by the new coronavirus.
Hospital officials also noted the treatment also known as blood plasma transfusion is only offered at a limited number of hospitals across the country.
“He was very sick for a long time,” said Dr. Stuart McDonald, a pulmonologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Fort Worth. “We were hopeful that this treatment would stop or slow down a rapidly deteriorating clinical course.”
It was just a few days ago that Merlin-Montoya got to see his family on FaceTime, using a white board to write his messages because he was having trouble talking.
“We’ve seen a lot of sick patients, and to see a patient success like this is very emotional and encouraging,” Long said.
Merlin-Montoya remains on quarantine as he continues his recovery.
“He was one of our first COVID-19 patients,” said Joseph DeLeon, president of Texas Health Fort Worth. “It’s miraculous to see how far he’s come with the help of our care teams.”
He struggles to walk and his stamina isn’t what it used to be, but the hospital staff told him it would all come back.
“I feel better, and I’m happy to have beaten it,” Merlin-Montoya said as he fought back tears. “It’s been a miracle.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 1:23 PM.
