Michele and Barry’s Covid Battle
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Hi everyone!
Thank you so much for visiting. Our family has created this site to keep everyone updated on Michele and Barry’s recovery.
On March 1st, after having a persistent cough, Barry was tested and diagnosed with Covid-19. Days later, Michele was diagnosed as well. Both were trying to heal at home with breathing treatments, as their cases were not severe enough (at the time) to require hospitalization.
That quickly changed as neither seemed to be getting better. After a few rough nights at home, Barry ended up at Sacred Heart hospital. After some oxygen and breathing treatments, he was sent home, where he continued to worsen. One night in particular, he ended up being rushed via ambulance back to Sacred Heart where his oxygen saturation on arrival was 81%. His oxygen needs only continued to increase until he was on maximum settings of continuous bipap (the last stop before intubation).
Meanwhile, Michele started getting worse. Having a history of asthma, we decided to err on the side of caution and bring her to Atlanta to be treated at Northside Hospital, where their niece manages the step down ICU and pulmonary unit and works closely with physicians who are on the cutting edge of Covid-19 treatments. She was immediately started on Remdesivir, breathing treatments, vitamins, and O2. With close monitoring and aggressive treatment, Michele slowly started to recover. After 4 nights in the hospital, Michele is expected to be discharged TODAY (YAY!) and will be coming home. Let’s get back to Barry....
Unfortunately, Barry had been sick for too long. After being hypoxic (without proper oxygenation) for so long, we knew he needed a different course of treatment. Amy (their niece) worked with her doctors and case manager to get Barry to Atlanta. It was a matter of life or death for him. After a days worth of phone calls and figuring out logistics, we were finally able to get Barry life flighted to Northside Hospital. He arrived at 1:30 am Thursday morning, intubated and sedated, with much uncertainty as to whether or not he would pull through. In Barry’s doctor’s words, “We are going to throw everything at him and be super aggressive, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up just yet.”
Barry was immediately extubated at Northside. Three days, several doses of Remdesivir, and Toci (rheumatoid arthritis drug being used to treat Covid) later, and Barry is making making little improvement. He has to remain proned (on his stomach) almost 24 hours a day to keep his O2 sats from decreasing. We haven’t made a TON of progress, but he hasn’t gotten worse and he’s ALIVE. We know that Barry has a long road of recovery ahead of him, but know we made the right decision by bringing him to Atlanta.
Without hesitation, we paid almost $13k to get Barry here. Insurance will not pay for his flight as it’s what they consider a “lateral transfer”. We would make this decision over and over again if we had to. We know it was his only chance for survival. He likely still has weeks ahead in the intensive care unit. He’s not out of the woods yet. These next few days are crucial to his recovery. Please keep both of them in your prayers!
Those of you that know Michele and Barry know that they’re the first to give the shirt off their back to help someone in need. Michele is a special education teacher at Benjamin Russell Elementary. Barry manages the Cracker Barrel in Crestview, FL. Our family appreciates your thoughts and prayers at this time. We will provide updates on Barry as we’re able.
Thank you so much for visiting. Our family has created this site to keep everyone updated on Michele and Barry’s recovery.
On March 1st, after having a persistent cough, Barry was tested and diagnosed with Covid-19. Days later, Michele was diagnosed as well. Both were trying to heal at home with breathing treatments, as their cases were not severe enough (at the time) to require hospitalization.
That quickly changed as neither seemed to be getting better. After a few rough nights at home, Barry ended up at Sacred Heart hospital. After some oxygen and breathing treatments, he was sent home, where he continued to worsen. One night in particular, he ended up being rushed via ambulance back to Sacred Heart where his oxygen saturation on arrival was 81%. His oxygen needs only continued to increase until he was on maximum settings of continuous bipap (the last stop before intubation).
Meanwhile, Michele started getting worse. Having a history of asthma, we decided to err on the side of caution and bring her to Atlanta to be treated at Northside Hospital, where their niece manages the step down ICU and pulmonary unit and works closely with physicians who are on the cutting edge of Covid-19 treatments. She was immediately started on Remdesivir, breathing treatments, vitamins, and O2. With close monitoring and aggressive treatment, Michele slowly started to recover. After 4 nights in the hospital, Michele is expected to be discharged TODAY (YAY!) and will be coming home. Let’s get back to Barry....
Unfortunately, Barry had been sick for too long. After being hypoxic (without proper oxygenation) for so long, we knew he needed a different course of treatment. Amy (their niece) worked with her doctors and case manager to get Barry to Atlanta. It was a matter of life or death for him. After a days worth of phone calls and figuring out logistics, we were finally able to get Barry life flighted to Northside Hospital. He arrived at 1:30 am Thursday morning, intubated and sedated, with much uncertainty as to whether or not he would pull through. In Barry’s doctor’s words, “We are going to throw everything at him and be super aggressive, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up just yet.”
Barry was immediately extubated at Northside. Three days, several doses of Remdesivir, and Toci (rheumatoid arthritis drug being used to treat Covid) later, and Barry is making making little improvement. He has to remain proned (on his stomach) almost 24 hours a day to keep his O2 sats from decreasing. We haven’t made a TON of progress, but he hasn’t gotten worse and he’s ALIVE. We know that Barry has a long road of recovery ahead of him, but know we made the right decision by bringing him to Atlanta.
Without hesitation, we paid almost $13k to get Barry here. Insurance will not pay for his flight as it’s what they consider a “lateral transfer”. We would make this decision over and over again if we had to. We know it was his only chance for survival. He likely still has weeks ahead in the intensive care unit. He’s not out of the woods yet. These next few days are crucial to his recovery. Please keep both of them in your prayers!
Those of you that know Michele and Barry know that they’re the first to give the shirt off their back to help someone in need. Michele is a special education teacher at Benjamin Russell Elementary. Barry manages the Cracker Barrel in Crestview, FL. Our family appreciates your thoughts and prayers at this time. We will provide updates on Barry as we’re able.
Organizer and beneficiary
Amy Wiederhold
Organizer
Atlanta, GA
Michele Ledoux
Beneficiary
