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Former state senator Ted O’Brien released from hospital after 65-day battle with COVID-19

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3 years ago

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GREECE, N.Y. — Former State Senator Ted O’Brien returned home from the hospital on Wednesday after his fight against COVID-19.

O’Brien has been under doctor’s watch for nearly two months, spending more than 60 days in the hospital. The former Rochester-area state senator was admitted to an Intensive Care Unit at Rochester General Hospital back in late March after contracting the coronavirus.

He was given a drug at the time to try to temper the inflammation, but doctors told his family they were unsure of his recovery.

He was in a coma for three weeks but soon after, O’Brien beat the odds and was moved to the Golisano Restorative Neurology and Rehabilitation Center. He was taken off of a ventilator earlier this month. O’Brien said he had to learn to walk, talk and swallow again at the rehabilitation center.

“As we look to reopen to economy, wearing masks and social distancing is so important,” O’Brien said. “I would say I know those things can be inconvenient but let me just tell you it’s a lot easier than the path that I’ve been on.”

O’Brien’s doctor said he’ll start with home therapy for now, and then move to outpatient center once he’s built up endurance. She believes the recovery process will take three months.

His wife, Sue O’Brien has been documenting every step of the way of what their family is experiencing. In her latest Facebook post, she writes, “Today, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is the week Ted will come home. During the course of his hospitalization, I have spent a little more than 2.5 hours with him.”

Sue O’Brien and her husband Ted’s siblings are raising money to buy equipment and technology that will allow other families to better touch base with their loved ones in the hospital. More information about the project can be found here.

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