By Devin Leith-Yessian, Record-Journal staff
WALLINGFORD — Coming home from a month of hospitalization for coronavirus treatment in late April, Vic Gara was determined to get back to work but lacked stamina and sometimes was unable to remember his computer passwords.
The first coronavirus patient to be discharged from Gaylord Specialty Healthcare on April 24, he’s become an evangelist for the hospital’s outpatient recovery program. The program aims to go beyond addressing the respiratory issues many COVID patients struggle with during recovery and also assist with the neurological, cognitive and physical complications.
After being admitted to Hartford Hospital on March 25, Gara was unconscious for two weeks and was on a ventilator for 11 days.
During his outpatient program evaluation, Gara realized how severe is condition was months after being discharged from the hospital.
“I did not expect to hear, after being evaluated, that I was temporarily totally disabled ... and that still is very difficult for me," Gara said.