Coronavirus Long Island: School custodian welcomed home after battling kidney failure, COVID-19

By writer to abc7ny.com

GLEN COVE, Lengthy Island (WABC) — Because the ambulance pulled as much as their Glen Cove home, there have been tears, pleasure and applause from a neighborhood of pals who’ve come out to want Frank Petrizzo a welcome house.

“It was very onerous – I by no means wish to re-live it once more,” he stated.

Almost two weeks in the past, Frank’s household was informed he would not final the evening. Final yr, the 49-year-old father of two was in renal failure and was in want of a kidney transplant. A janitor on the native intermediate faculty, they held fundraisers for him. The whole group was praying.

Frank ultimately discovered a donor, and was making a full restoration – then he began coming down with signs of COVID-19.

“He was sleeping on the sofa. Could not get of the sofa for about two days, after which a ever began – we figured one thing was incorrect,” stated his spouse, Michelle Petrizzo.

The following morning, Michelle was informed the unthinkable – her husband solely had hours to reside, and he or she needed to inform her women.

“They beautiful a lot screamed and went on the ground and hugged one another, and I am going to always remember their screams, however I needed to inform them that we have now hope, and we all the time have hope after we imagine we prayed,” Michelle stated.

They stated a prayer and had the entire group praying. A short while later, the hospital referred to as her with an experimental drug that Frank was a candidate for.

“I simply stated ‘do it’ to be trustworthy with you. I did not know what the trial was referred to as. I used to be determined, and I stated ‘simply do it, no matter you will do to avoid wasting his life, do it,'” Michelle added.

On Easter morning, they acquired phrase that Frank was taken off the ventilator – they could not see or go to him within the hospital, however the employees was giving the household every day updates.

“The nurses and docs, they’re angels,” Michelle stated.

Whereas the highway for Frank continues to be lengthy – it was nothing wanting a miracle.