INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — There’s perhaps no better way to really understand the grim reality of COVID-19 unless you’ve had it. A COVID-19 survivor, Michelle Freed candidly spoke with 13News Anchor Andrea Morehead about her month-long experience from feeling symptoms to the scary diagnosis, and finally “The Comeback.”
“I got sick back on March 15, but I didn’t know what it was," Freed said. "I thought it was a very bad anxiety attack. ... I didn’t know and it continued to get worse over a few days, and then I became very short of breath whenever I did something as simple as walk across the room."
Here's a look at a time of Freed's journey to recovering from coronavirus.
- MARCH 19: Freed was diagnosed with COVID-19. Following her diagnosis she posted to Facebook hat she didn't actually get a test, but based off her symptoms doctors determine she did have the virus.
- MARCH 21: "There were a few nights when I just thought this might be it," Freed said. "And that’s partly when the nights are so bad because you wonder will my lungs stop working. You just don’t know, so it’s terrifying.” Freed suffered from shortness of breath and struggled to do something as simple as walking across the room.
- MARCH 24: Freed created a support group called "SS COVID-19." The group is a support system for those with confirmed or unconfirmed cases of coronavirus as well as those supporting ill friends and family members.
- MARCH 30: A Facebook post from Freed reiterated the important of support. " “If you know somebody’s that sick reach out to them, text them email, drop food by, and know that they’re probably not going to respond but do it anyway because the support that I got was unbelievable."
- APRIL 6: Freed was able to take her first walk after her diagnosis. “It narrows things down really quickly to what’s important to you, your family, your friends.”
- APRIL 15: She gives her final update online about her journey: “Even moments when I feel good, and I look across and I see my kids, or I see a loved one, that is what matters, that very moment. And right now, we don’t even know when this is going to end so it’s very hard to talk about the future. So, ... now is what matters.”
Freed said she's not 100 percent recovered, and still gets winded when walking up and down the stairs. She hopes to personally meet some of the people in the SS COVID-19 Support Group in the future when it's safe. If you would like to connect with the group visit: facebook.com/groups/528485007809483
Have an inspiring COVID-19 story you want to share? Send Andrea your story to thecomeback@wthr.com.