During the final months of 2021, Licking County experienced a surge of COVID-19 infections, setting records for the highest number of new cases and hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.  Kari Richards and her husband, Jarred, were among those diagnosed with the disease in November.  The couple visited the Urgent Care although neither felt their symptoms were severe.  Jarred quickly recovered during his mandatory quarantine time; however, Kari’s health deteriorated.
 
With no energy or appetite, Kari spent most of her day in bed.  She messaged family members to ask for advice to battle the symptoms.  Taking an over-the-counter cough suppressant had no affect, nor did utilizing cough drops.  At Jarred’s urging, Kari attempted to leave the bedroom and sit on the couch.  After stopping several times due to feeling lightheaded and dizzy, Kari gave up, and asked for assistance to return to the bed.  The weakness left her unable to stand or even get dressed.  

Kari’s daughter owns a pulse oximeter, a small device placed on a fingertip to estimate the oxygen saturation of the blood.  Ideal readings are typically 95 percent or higher.  Kari’s reading was only at 40 percent.  On December 2, 2021, Jarred made the decision to drive Kari to the Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Emergency Department.  During the drive, a deer hit the side of Jarred’s truck which left Jarred struggling to try to get the door open when they arrived at LMH.  The staff brought a wheelchair to assist in transporting Kari inside.  She was having difficulty breathing and felt overwhelmed by the number of people working to get her registered and trying to determine a diagnosis.

The staff transferred Kari to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for immediate treatment and care.  Her nurse, Jordan Long, B.S.N., offered comfort by specifically bringing Kari purple Popsicles to enjoy.  She seemed to recover some of her strength, and was moved out of the ICU to a standard patient room.  However, Kari once again began experiencing breathing trouble.  She felt as though she could never breathe in enough air.  Despite the advice of the physicians, Kari refused intubation, the process of inserting a tube into a person’s airway to assist in delivering air to the lungs.  As her health continued to rapidly decline, Kari had no other choice and was intubated on December 21.  

Soon after, Kari became comatose.  She remained in the coma through February.  During that time, her kidneys failed and her care team believed she might have to undergo a double lung transplant to survive.  LMH staff implemented a number of patient safety protocols to properly care for Kari including dialysis every two days to remove fluids from her body.  To encourage her recovery, Kari’s family members, including her son, Jaiden, and daughter, Kailey, were allowed to visit her as often as possible.    

“I believe I am a walking miracle.  Many who were hospitalized during the same time did not survive,” Kari shared.  “Bassam Kret, M.D., the ICU physician, never gave up on me.  He kept caring for me through the worst of the disease, and offering treatments until the day I was able to leave LMH.”

As Kari’s body began to positively respond to treatment, her kidneys began functioning again, and her lungs healed enough to avoid the need for transplant.  Kari did experience setbacks, including a wound on her face that would not heal properly.  After time, the wound did heal, and she overcame the worst of the symptoms.

Kari remembers nothing from the end of December through February 2022, when she woke from the coma.  “Right before coming out of the coma, I saw my Dad who had passed away in 2017.  That is another reason I believe my recovery is a miracle.  I knew when I saw him that I was going to survive.”

Regaining some strength, Kari and Jarred were able to celebrate Valentine’s Day and their wedding anniversary on February 21.  The couple has been married for 15 years.  As she continued to recover, Kari developed relationships with a number of her caretakers.  “I enjoyed spa nights with Leah Benvie, the point of care technician.  She would file and paint my nails, and wash my hair.  I felt pampered.  Zach Derugen, B.S.N., was very knowledgeable about the tracheostomy and assisted in suctioning the tube when needed.  Tammy Lavery, the ICU nurse, also took very good care of me.  There were so many kindhearted people, I wish I could name them all.”

In addition to treatments for COVID-19, Kari was offered rehabilitation services in her room at LMH.  Matt Mathias assisted Kari to build strength and movement before she was transferred to another facility for more strenuous rehabilitation.  When Kari left the ICU, the staff created posters of encouragement and lined the hallways to cheer for her and show their support for her continuing recovery efforts.  She finally returned to her home in Fallsburg in March.  Even fully recovered, Kari still experiences the side effects of the disease.  She sometimes struggles to breathe when walking; however, her family continues to support her and offer assistance when needed.