TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Town of Tonawanda woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and double pneumonia says she saw some of her worst days when battling the virus.
"The body aches were terrible. Your clothes hurt. Everything hurt," said 60 year-old Cindy Veith.
Cindy Veith says she came down with the virus mid-March, after her daughter was very sick with similar COVID-19 symptoms.
"It started out with a cough, slight fever."
Veith battled severe fever, cough, chills, a rash, rib pain, vomiting and other symptoms for more than a week before being admitted to the hospital. It was there she tested positive for COVID-19 and double pneumonia.
"I think the hardest part for me in the hospital was that my blood pressure would drop," she said. "When the Doctor released me he said as long as my blood pressure levels were holding I could go home but at any moment that I couldn't breathe, I could come back."
Veith says the COVID-19 symptoms started to subside and now she's home resting where she has been for the past two weeks. Everyday tasks are still hard, she says, while she continues to recover.
"I'm dealing with the exhaustion. I'm doing small things like picking up dog poop in the yard. Even getting out my vacuum was a lot for me."
Veith says she plans on donating her plasma, which she was told could help other COVID-19 patients.
"I don't know when I'm going to be cleared to do that, but they use your plasma to help other people who are sick," she said.
She wants to share her story with other COVID patients, to give hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"Truly if you believe in God or not, pray," she said. "Rest and take lots of fluids. Eat well, and stop visualizing the negative and start visualizing healing."
Veith says when she was discharged from the hospital, Doctors recommended she take 1000 mg of vitamin C, zinc and stay hydrated. She urges everyone, even those who are not sick to boost their immune systems.
"There is a light at the end of the tunnel," she said.
