PATIENT, WHO DOCTORS ONCE CONSIDERED NEAR-DEATH, IS TONIGHT HEADED HOME, AFTER MAKING A FULL RECOVERY. WMUR’S TYLER DUMONT HAS MORE ON THE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT HE RECEIVED. TYLER: EARLY ON IN HIS NEA TWO-MONTH STAY HERE AT SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE HEALTH, DOCTORS SAY THEY WEREN’T SURE IF THIS COVID-19 PATIENT WOULD SURVIVE, BUT TODAY, HE WAS DISCHARGED OUT THE FRONT DOOR DOCTORS SAY JOSEPH JOZITIS HAS FULLY RECOVERED FROM THE VIRUS AND HEADED HOME THIS AFTERNOON WITH HIS FAMILY. IT COMES AFTER HE RECEIVED CONVALESCENT PLASMA TREATMENT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. THE TRANSFUSION WAS PART OF NATIONWIDE CLINICAL TRIAL WITH THE MAYO CLINIC AND USES DONATED PLASMA FROM A PERSON WHO HAS RECOVERED FROM CORONAVIRUS AND DEVELOPED ANTIBODIES. DOCTORS SAY IT’S A REMARKABLE END TO A LONG ROAD FOR JOZITIS, WHO WAS PLACED ON A VENTILATOR WHEN HE FIRST ARRIVED HERE APRIL 3. AND THEY SAY IT GIVES THEM HOPE FOR OTHERS FIGHTING THE SAME VIRUS. DR. SHERER: IT HAS CONSUMED EVERYBODY’S LIFE, BUT TO SEE AN OUTCOME LIKE THIS FOR SOMEONE LIKE JOE JUST MAKES EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE. CHERYL: WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON COME IN AND GET CLOSE TO
Man considered near death from COVID-19 leaves NH hospital after receiving plasma
Donated plasma from people who have recovered used in clinical trial
After six weeks inside a Nashua hospital ICU, a COVID-19 patient who doctors once considered near death is now headed home after making a full recovery, and doctors are crediting a specialized treatment.>> Download the free WMUR appDoctors at Southern New Hampshire Health said Joseph Jozitis has fully recovered from the virus after he received convalescent plasma treatment several weeks ago. He went home with his family Wednesday afternoon. “When you see a person come in and get close to death go home, walking out the door and getting in their car, it’s an extremely emotional moment, and it really makes you proud of what you do,” said Cheryl Gagne, chief nursing officer for Southern New Hampshire Health.The transfusion was part of a nationwide clinical trial with the Mayo Clinic to use donated plasma from a person who has recovered from coronavirus and developed antibodies.Doctors said it’s a remarkable end to a long road for Jozitis, who was placed on a ventilator when he first arrived at the hospital April 3. Doctors said it gives them hope for others fighting COVID-19.”It has consumed everybody’s life, but to see an outcome like this for someone like Joe just makes everything worthwhile,” said Dr. Timothy Scherer, chief medical officer for Southern New Hampshire Health.Doctors say Jozitis was not among the categories of people considered high-risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19.
NASHUA, N.H. —
After six weeks inside a Nashua hospital ICU, a COVID-19 patient who doctors once considered near death is now headed home after making a full recovery, and doctors are crediting a specialized treatment.
>> Download the free WMUR app
Doctors at Southern New Hampshire Health said Joseph Jozitis has fully recovered from the virus after he received convalescent plasma treatment several weeks ago. He went home with his family Wednesday afternoon.
“When you see a person come in and get close to death go home, walking out the door and getting in their car, it’s an extremely emotional moment, and it really makes you proud of what you do,” said Cheryl Gagne, chief nursing officer for Southern New Hampshire Health.
The transfusion was part of a nationwide clinical trial with the Mayo Clinic to use donated plasma from a person who has recovered from coronavirus and developed antibodies.
Doctors said it’s a remarkable end to a long road for Jozitis, who was placed on a ventilator when he first arrived at the hospital April 3. Doctors said it gives them hope for others fighting COVID-19.
“It has consumed everybody’s life, but to see an outcome like this for someone like Joe just makes everything worthwhile,” said Dr. Timothy Scherer, chief medical officer for Southern New Hampshire Health.
Doctors say Jozitis was not among the categories of people considered high-risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19.
