>> Anchor: SINCE MARCH 1ST WHEN
THE FIRST CASE WAS REPORTED.
THE NUMBER EFFECTED.
>> Nicole: I WAS ONE OF THEM AND
SO WAS BETTY DAVIS.
TONIGHT WE SHARE THE STORY OF
HER BEATLE AGAINST THE VIRUS,
AND SHOW SHE TURNED HER STRUGGLE
INTO A WAY TO HELP OTHERS.
>> THAT HEAVY RAIN.
>> LOCAL 10 CHIEF CERTIFIED
METEOROLOGIST BETTY DAVIS HAS
BEEN THROUGH ALL KINDS OF
WEATHER.
>> WINDS OF 70 MILES PER HOUR.
>> TORNADOES.
FLASH FLOODS.
HURRICANES.
THEN CAME A STORM OF A DIFFERENT
SORT.
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
>> I HAD BEEN PREPARING FOR
SOMETHING LIKE THIS, REALLY
SINCE EARLY MARCH.
BY THE END OF FEBRUARY, I HAD
STOPPED GOING ANYWHERE REALLY.
AND EARLY MAR I HAD EVERYTHING
STOCKED.
>> DESPITE TAKING EVERY
PRECAUTION, BETTY TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 IN EARLY
JULY.
>> I HAD ONE LITTLE COUGH. I KNEW THAT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR
I KNEW THAT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR
ME, AND I THOUGHT YOU KNOW MAYBE
DUST OR SOMETHING.
>> AND THEN CAME A PERSISTENT
HEADACHE, A SPIKE IN BODY
TEMPERATURE.
>> IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I
COULDN’T JUST CONTROL THE FEVER
TYLENOL.
I WOULD HAVE TO LIE ON MY BED,
ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT, WITH ICE
PACKS LINING MY BACK.
>> WHEN HER BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS
STARTED TO DROP, SHE WAS
HOSPITALIZED.
AND FOR THREE DAYS STRUGGLED
WITH PNEUMONIA.
>> IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENED.
>> ONCE SHE RETURNED HOME, FOR
SEVERAL WEEKS OF RECOVERY, BETTY
MADE A COMMITMENT TO GIVE BACK.
>> GET PAST EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENED.
TURN YOUR NEGATIVE INTO A
POSITIVE.
>>S WHEN SHE WAS WELL ENOUGH SHE
SIGNED UP TO DONATE HER PLAZA,
IN HOPES OF HELPING OTHERS.
>> ONE PLASMA DONATION HAS THE
POTENTIAL OF HELPING UP TO THREE
COVID-19 PATIENTS.
DURING THE DONATION PROCESS,
SAMPLES OF THE PATIENT’S BLOOD
ARE TAKEN AND SCREENED.
FOR ANY POTENTIAL DISEASES AT
THE SAME TIME THEY ARE PLASMA IS
BEING DRAWN.
>> BEHIND THE SCENES WE ARE
PROCESSING AND TESTING PLASMA
DONATIONS AROUND THE CLOCK.
IT IS A 24 HOUR EFFORT THAT IS
TAKING PLACE.
UNITS THAT DON’T PASS ARE
DISCARDED, BUT THOSE THAT DO ARE
GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT.
>> WE SERVICE OVER 350 THROUGH
GROUT THE SOUTHEAST.
AS PATIENTS NEED THESE DONATIONS
WE ARE DISTRIBUTING THEM TO
WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.
>> WITHOUT HESITATION, BETTY
DONATED HER PLASMA A SECOND
TIME.
AND THE FEELING STRONGER EVERY
DAY.
>> I AM BACK ON T.V. DOING THE
WEATHER BEEN SO I AM HAPPY TO BE
BACK.
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE HER BACK.
THERE ARE MANY ON GOING STUDIES
EXPLORING CONVALESCENCE PLASMA.
WE WANT TO BRING IN BETTY NOW,
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROGRESS, AND
HOW YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING.
>> I HAVE BEEN FEELING SO
BLESSED NICOLE.
FEELING BLESSED.
ABSOLUTELY.
WHATEVER LINGERING PHYSICAL
COVID-19 REMINDERS THAT I HAVE,
THEY PALE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT
OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH.
I KNOW SOME WATCHING TONIGHT,
POLITIC YOU JUST GOT THAT
COVID-19 DIAGNOSE.
MAYBE YOU ARE WATCHING FROM THE
HOSPITAL, IT IS TOUGH.
IT IS TOUGH.
BUT DO NOT LOSE FAITH.
AND OF COURSE PEOPLE COPING WITH
GRIEF, BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST
SOMEONE TO COVID-19.
BUT DO NOT LOSE FAITH.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO
O THROUGH.
BUT I AM SO BLESSED AND I FEEL
SO JOYFUL TO BE IN A POSITION
WHERING ROLL UP MY SLEEVE AND
DONATE PLASMA.
BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO HELP
SOMEONE.
AND I AM IN A POSITION TO DO
THAT.
AND FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HELP
NOW.
>> Calvin: YOU RELIED ON YOUR