LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Doctors, nurses and administrators at a Nebraska hospital cheered as a 91-year-old woman was wheeled out of a unit housing COVID-19 patients.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Imogene Hostetler said that she felt “great” after she left the CHI St. Elizabeth on Thursday.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she said. “I want to plant some flowers or bake a cake.”
On April 5, Hostetler became one of the initial five residents from the Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams to test positive for coronavirus. Over the course of the next week, the retirement home would have 24 positive tests between residents and staff members. Three Gold Crest residents who tested positive died.
A ventilator was never required to treat Hostetler, who has COPD as well as other underlying health issues, according to daughter Sally Kastanek.
“She was very lucky,” said Patrick Kamphaus, a registered nurse who works the COVID-19 unit.
Hostetler became eligible to be released when she tested negative for the virus twice. Kamphaus said he was on the phone with Kastanek when the results came across his computer screen and the call quickly included joyful tears.
“We all celebrated,” he said. “This is so exciting. It feels so good to know that we’re helping people.”
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