Covid Patient Released After 315 Days In Hospital

This is the moment a 52-year-old woman who had Covid is applauded out of a hospital where she was treated for 315 days.

The patient, who is called Elsa, first arrived at the Hospital Gregorio Maranon in the Spanish capital Madrid on 7th April 2020.

She was diagnosed with COVID-19 which placed her life at risk as she had been previously diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer.

Her condition quickly deteriorated before she had to be moved to an ICU 15 days after she arrived at the hospital.

Elsa remained in an ICU around half of the 315 days she was treated at the centre where she suffered several infections and a cerebral stroke, according to a press release from the hospital yesterday (16 February).

The statement added she was intubated and had to be placed on extracorporeal life support, also known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), for a month to help keep her alive.

The video shows the emotional moment Elsa is applauded out of the hospital as she can be seen very moved by the gesture as she waves at her caretakers in gratitude after finally being able to leave the centre on 15th February.

The staff begins to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ while the woman exits as she was set to celebrate her 53rd birthday from home the day after she left (16 February).

In the 10 months Elsa received treatment, she was cared for by over 300 health professionals ranging from nurses, physical therapists or various types of doctors such as psychiatrists, endocrinologists or neurologist among others.

Elsa was included in a program in the hospital which provides special physical and psychological care to patients who spent prolonged periods in an ICU called the ‘Attention for Post-ICU Covid Patients Program’.

She has been extremely thankful to her caretakers and though she says she will miss some of her new routines at the centre, she plans to replace them with new ones from her home.