New Mexico Man Goes Home After COVID-19 Hospitalization Lasts Over 500 Days

A man in New Mexico has finally returned home after spending about 550 days in the hospital battling COVID-19.

Donnell Hunter, whose age has not been disclosed, was able to leave Kindred Hospital Albuquerque on Friday, about 16 months after he was diagnosed with COVID.

Hunter was hospitalized back in September 2020 due to his severe symptoms. He was later sedated and placed on a ventilator for the majority of the first year.

After doctors gave their approval for Hunter to be discharged, he was given the red carpet treatment for his journey home.

Hunter received a police escort for his drive home, and neighbors lined the street in Roswell with signs of encouragement. “I can’t even put it into words,” he told a local outlet about his return home.

Although Hunter was able to leave the hospital, he first had to undergo a long road of recovery.

“I lost usage of my hands, of my arms, of everything, my legs, so I had to wait for all that to come back, and do a lot of rehab speech therapy, learn how to eat learn, how to swallow, I had to learn everything all over again,” Hunter explained.

His wife, Ashley Hunter, has remained supportive of her husband’s progress. “I tell him it’s like having a newborn because like his first steps were just a milestone,” she said.

During his time in the hospital fighting COVID-19, Hunter also became a grandfather and was finally able to me the tot following his release. “I met my grandson for the first time it was amazing,” he said.

“He’s a year now, and he acts like he had been knowing me all his life, so as soon as I woke up this morning, he was the first thing on my mind.”

Even though Hunter is still in the process of healing and is unsure if he will fully recover, his family said they will stick by his side every step of the way.