AMNA NAWAZ: Since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have heard stories of
loss and lasting illness.
But for most, the virus is not a death sentence.
So tonight, we wanted to bring you some of those stories of survival and hope.
ALASTAIR BITSOI, Coronavirus Survivor: I am a COVID-19 survivor.
ZAIMAH HABEEB, Coronavirus Survivor: I survived coronavirus.
JAN JOHNSON, Coronavirus Survivor: I'm 91 years old, and I survived coronavirus.
ARLYN QUITEVIS, Coronavirus Survivor: I'm a nurse practitioner, I'm a front-liner, and
also a coronavirus survivor.
BEVERLYN QUITEVIS, Coronavirus Survivor: I'm also a COVID-19 survivor.
DENISE DELPONTE DESARNO, Coronavirus Survivor: I'm a coronavirus survivor, and I donated
plasma as well.
I had a fever, but it was never as high as they stated on the news. I was very lethargic.
ALASTAIR BITSOI: I had gotten sick, but I have never -- like, it felt like I was at
a sauna or a sweat lodge, like, where I was just like wet.
JOHN MENG, Coronavirus Survivor: Body aches, fatigue, and then a little bit of nausea.
I didn't have any shortness of breath, no fever at all.
JAN JOHNSON: I was asymptomatic, and I had no -- I didn't feel any different than I did
normally.
BEVERLYN QUITEVIS: They did a chest X-ray, and I had a severe bilateral pneumonia.
AMANDA ELLIS, Coronavirus Survivor: I was gasping for breath, probably about every -- 20
or 30 times a minute. And a couple of nights, I said my goodbyes to the world and woke up
in the morning, not knowing that I would.
GENA ROSS, Coronavirus Survivor: In the hospital, I sang songs to myself. I tried to comfort
myself. And I prayed a lot. And I made videos on Facebook to let people know, you know,
this is what's going on with me, but trying to encourage people too.
ALASTAIR BITSOI: Knowing my status, it gave me some relief in some ways. This is not good
news I'm positive, but it's also good news, in a sense that I can focus my body on where
I need healing.
ZAIMAH HABEEB: I would take in a very, very, very deep breath and hold it for five seconds.
And then I would breathe out very slowly. And I would do that over and over.
During those moments, I just would think about how I needed to get well for my kids and that
I had so much to live for.
JOHN MENG: Even if you're someone who's relatively healthy, living an active lifestyle, with
no underlying illnesses, and relatively young, your life can really be impacted by this virus.
ARLYN QUITEVIS: Some patients are kind of -- kind of on the fence sometimes when reaching
out to their primary care doctor.
But if there's something that's off and you're concerned, definitely seek medical advice.
Don't wait.
JAN JOHNSON: Just take it one day at a time. Don't worry about the future. Just be grateful
about the past.
AMANDA ELLIS: I always thought that, at the end of my life, I would have time to say goodbye,
and maybe not. I'm going to, you know, spend my time to make sure that the people I love
know that and why.
ZAIMAH HABEEB: I had no idea how much people cared for me. You just never know the difference
that you make in someone's lives. And I have heard people say that to me: Like, wow, we
really need you to get better because you're an inspiring person to me.
And I'm like, really? Thank you.
GENA ROSS: I made it. I got my double negatives. And I'm so excited.
I got to hug my daughter. I got to touch her face. I got to feel like mom again, instead
of like some just big ball of germ.
JAN JOHNSON: I just feel lucky to be alive.
ALASTAIR BITSOI: One thing that has helped me through this process is having hope. I'm
taught, through everything you face in your life, you always have sihasin, or hope.
DENISE DELPONTE DESARNO: So what if we're in phase three or we have to stay in another
week. We have our health. We have our family. It's only going to get uphill. It can't get
any worse, because you have -- you have come out of this.
BEVERLYN QUITEVIS: Hope is on the way. I always believe that. Hope is on the way. This will
not last long.
ZAIMAH HABEEB: The morning is going to come, if you can just make it through those tough
moments. Hang on. Stay strong. You can do it.
(LAUGHTER)