Maryland Man Makes 'Miracle' Recovery From Virus
LEMON: A Maryland man battle coronavirus for nearly 30 days in an intensive care unit. Now he's telling CNN about the recovery he and his doctors are calling a miracle. Here's Miguel Marquez with the story.</s>KEVIN SWINK, RECOVERING FROM COVID-19: I'm a miracle. Yes, I'm a miracle. A lot of people in the hospital call me medical miracle.</s>MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eighteen days on a ventilator, nearly 30 days in the</s>ICU. SWINK: And I'll take syringe here.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): Three times intubated a tracheostomy, his throat healing, he still eats through a tube.</s>SWINK: Or here is my stomach too.</s>MARQUEZ: (voice-over): At the worst, his heart nearly stopped beating, the miracle, he's alive. (on-camera): Is there a point where you realized this may be it?</s>SWINK: There was a point where it hurt to take even one breath. And I did actually at one time just want to die. But then I heard a voice in my head that said you're being selfish.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): Selfish because he thought he'd mar (ph) graduation for one daughter and a birthday for another. He had a wife, two parents, a church and friends that loved him. He also had a team of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists caring and pooling for him.</s>DAVID GOLDSBOROUGH, RESPIRATORY MEDSTAR FRANKLIN SQUARE MEDICAL CENTER: You know, the whole time that he was here, you know, I don't know if our patients can hear us or if he even heard it, but I used to tell them, don't give up. And I don't know if he heard that. And I would like to know if he have heard me saying that to him.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): Kevin says he does remember that. He wasn't sure if he imagined it, but he remembers it and a nurse named Beth (ph).</s>SWINK: She's the one that comes up and told me, you know, I was there the night you almost died. And, you know, I'm like, I know nothing about that.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): COVID-19 keeps patients like Kevin sedated and separated from loved ones, medical staff wear masks and gowns. Hard to know who is who. Beth Gelston was in the room on Swink's worst day.</s>BETH GELSTON, REGISTERED NURSE, MEDSTAR FRANKLIN SQUARE MEDICAL CENTER: He started to crash.</s>MARQUEZ (on-camera): This is when his heart nearly stopped.</s>GELSTON: It did. So I was caring for him that day. And in the room with him, while all of this was happening, and when I saw him on the day that he left the hospital, I told him that, I told him that he almost died and I thought he was going to die. And I just -- I'm so thankful that he didn't.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): Kevin Swink now an inspiration for the staff that saved him. (on-camera): How do you cope with patients as sick as Kevin?</s>GELSTON: In the beginning of all of this, it definitely wasn't easy. And a lot of us left in tears a lot of the time. But I really believe that we've become together as such as support for each other. And also seeing people improve. It's helped like the fact that Kevin is home and doing so much better it helps -- it really helps us to know that we're making this much of an impact.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): Kevin Swink not typical in another way. 50 years old, no underlying medical conditions otherwise healthy, another COVID-19 mystery. Some for reasons still not understood get deathly ill while others barely know they have it.</s>DR. MIMI NOVELLO, VP MEDICAL AFFAIRS AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, MEDSTAR FRANKLIN SQUARE: Is very confusing to us. And, you know, I think there are people that are looking into why this might be. You know, could it be related to genetics, could it be related to the viral load or the amount of virus at the person exposed to.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): Kevin's recovery as mysterious as his illness. He's father also tested positive and may not recover. Other family members got it too, and were barely affected.</s>SWINK: It just blindsided me. I didn't think I'd get it. I didn't think there was any possibility or anything like that.</s>MARQUEZ (voice-over): When he was discharged, his church organized a drive-by parade. Kevin will see graduations and birthdays. He's looking forward to solid food. A double portion of Maryland crab cakes. (on-camera): How sweet is life?</s>SWINK: Nice. Very sweet. Very sweet.</s>LEMON: Definitely down with the Maryland crab cakes. Miguel Marquez joins me now. I'm sure you are too, Miguel. You know, Kevin isn't the kind of person that you think of, in the most at risk categories. Does this help highlight, just how much do we have to learn about this virus?</s>MARQUEZ: It is the most frustrating things. So many members of his family also got it and people he knows. Others they'd went through it, barely even knew they had it, barely have fever. He almost died. His heart was that close from stopping. It is just incredible how they can't quite figure out how this disease works and why it affects some people so much worse than others.</s>LEMON: Yes. But I love that he said, I can't be selfish. I have others to think about than myself. I'm not going to die. Miguel, thank you. That was a really great piece and we wish -- we really wish him the best. Thank you Miguel. Stay safe.</s>MARQUEZ: He still hasn't gotten those crab cakes. He will assume though.</s>LEMON: He will. Well, give us the address. We got to send them some crab cakes. I promise we'll send if you give me address.</s>MARQUEZ: Will do.</s>LEMON: I'll make sure you get some crab cakes.</s>MARQUEZ: All right.</s>LEMON: OK, with most states in the process of opening up, small business owners are considering whether they should reopen or not. And for my next guest, that can be a difficult choice between paying the bills and keeping her family healthy. Her concerns and her decision next.