In fact, the last time Dr. Jeffrey Huml treated Barbosa, he was unconscious; COVID-19 forced him into a coma for six weeks.
Barbosa said his whole body closed, and the virus nearly killed him several times.
“They told my family to say goodbye to me three times. They told them they would disconnect me,” he said.
But Barbosa has survived and is on the long road to recovery.
“I’m amazed. This is truly a miracle,” said Dr. Huml of Northwestern Medicine.
While Barbosa has several relatives in the western suburbs, his close family – including his wife, two children and his parents – are all in Mexico. They could not visit him for almost four months during his stay at Central Dupage Hospital.
Barbosa is 25 years old, had no pre-existing health problems, and her doctor said her case should serve as a warning.
“Young people need to take this very seriously. Every day people die from the virus,” Dr Huml said.
Barbosa was released in August last year, but must be checked frequently at the hospital while dealing with the subsequent effects of the virus. He hopes to receive the vaccine as soon as possible and hopes to see his family.
“When I woke up, the first thing I thought about was being there for them,” he said.
At its peak, DuPage Central Hospital treated 111 patients with COVID. Now the number is about 25, but doctors have said it is important to remember the threat of serious illness or even death remains.
Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.