ALBERTVILLE, Alabama — An Albertville man is finally home after five months of battling COVID-19 in the hospital.
After spending five months in four different hospitals and two rehabilitation centers, 65-year-old Jeff Gentry was welcomed home by his family and friends on April 9. His family describes his coming back home as a miracle.
"Our story is about love, hope, faith, and divine intervention," said Jeff's wife, Jamie.
Jeff had no pre-existing conditions. He tested positive for COVID-19 on November 9 and was put on a ventilator on Thanksgiving day. Jeff was intubated throughout December 2020.
"He was on the ventilator and trach for 93 days," said Jamie.
One of the most precious moments of coming home for Jeff is when he got to hold his newest grandson for the very first time.
"That's one thing that had kept me going, too," said Jeff. "I didn't get to see him until I got to Albertville. He was three months old, and I could just see him through the window because you can't have visitors there."
Due to the pandemic, Jeff wasn't allowed visitors in the hospital or while in an Albertville rehabilitation center. The first time Jamie got to visit Jeff was 59 days after he was hospitalized.
"I had on the mask, all the gear, the PPE gear. I had it all on," said Jamie.
Jeff says he doesn't remember his wife's visit or much of his time in the hospital. There were times his family wasn't sure if he would make it home at all.
"He went from bad to worse to worse to worse to worse," said Jamie. "He took three turns for the worst. The last one was on March the first, and that, he had to meet Jesus for a few minutes. He coded that day."
Jeff lost sixty pounds while in the hospital. He says he is eating solid foods now and is learning to walk again.
"I'm walking on a walker, and I'm doing it okay," said Jeff.
Jeff and Jamie say they are thankful for the nurses and staff at the hospitals and rehabilitation centers who took great care of him.
They credit his fighting spirit and the thousands of prayers from family and friends for his recovery.
"Just always remember you are not alone," said Jeff. "I'm in a hospital and I can't see anybody but I had my Lord there and he was with me, and he stayed with me."
Jeff and Jamie are now spreading a message of hope.
"You just can't ever give up," said Jeff.
"We never gave up on him," said Jamie. "There were days where there was little hope, but there were never hopeless days."
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