Rev. Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Marica is a 69 year old pastor who was diagnosed with Covid-19 and Diabetes on Christmas Day, 2020. He spent the next 6 months in three different hospitals. This blog tells the story of the struggles that he and his family endured.
It took us about month to get into a rehab facility. They told me that I had lost 80% of my functionality on my left side and about 20% on my right, so rehab was a given. At first, even sitting up was virtually impossible. I couldn’t support myself.
LGH technically discharged me but there was nowhere to go. I couldn’t stay and I couldn’t go. I felt like Tom Hanks in the movie “Terminal”. The competition for rehab beds was/is fierce. So finding a rehabilitation facility took some time. We had prayed for a facility that was close and would take me. I presented several complicating issues: the trachea, diabetes, dialysis, and my bed sore wound. Various facilities were considered: Richmond, Washington, and even Connecticut. Finally our prayers were answered, and Virginia Baptist Hospital took me. It was the closest facility to our house!
While there were some rehab capabilities at Lynchburg General, Virginia Baptist had superior facilities, and I could get the more individualized attention that I desperately needed. Lisa, Sara and Andrew were excellent.
Courtney, a speech therapist at VBH, listened to me patiently re: the food issue and changed my diet. Canned green beans never tasted so heavenly. However the detestable trachea remained. I continued to improve, and the physical therapy was most profitable.
Lindsay and Evelyn, my physical therapists at Heartland were instrumental in continuing my progress. Finally, it was determined I was well enough to go home. And so, 6 months to the day after I was admitted to LGH, I stepped thru my doorway.
NEXT TIME: "HEARTLAND"
Rev. Dr. N. Patrick Marica contributes incisive Christian commentary on this blog on a regular basis. He is the Vice-Chancellor of Amherst Theological Seminary, and a D. Min. from Amherst Theological Seminary. He has his MA from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of the book: "The Walk Applied". He has also written "The Fasting and Prayer Handbook" He is the Director of Godly Training Ministries. He has been married to Kathy since 1985. They have 2 adult daughters and an extraordinary son-in-law.