Second life - Simon Móricz-Sabján

Muscle atrophy, common for all patients placed in an induced coma, began within the first few days therefore physical therapy treatments became crucial in Richie’s care.

During his two months of being in a coma Richie received a total of 14 blood transfusions, an unusually high number.

His doctors and nurses fought a constant battle to save his life.

Richie with his nurses during a shift change, in the Intensive Care Unit, on May 3. 2021. The four waves of COVID-19 so far have claimed more than 40,000 lives in Hungary, making it one of the top countries with the highest death rate per capita.

Gyula Meszaros visits his son, Richard at the Intensive Care Unit of Uzsoki Street Hospital in Budapest, Hungary, on April 9th, 2021, after being put on a mechanical ventilator 4 weeks priorly. Richie is a real survivor, he was eventually discharged from hospital in July after 113 days, having defeated the coronavirus. Thirty-year-old Richard Meszaros was diagnosed with the coronavirus during the surge of its third wave in the capital city of Hungary, Budapest. In March 2021 he was transported from his home by ambulance to the Emergency Department of Uzsoki Street Hospital where he was almost immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to his rapidly deteriorating condition. Richie spent 59 days in intensive care where he was connected to a ventilator for nearly the entire time followed by his transfer to the COVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit for a total of 113 days. He received a hero’s sendoff from the hospital after the entire staff became united behind him in their life-saving efforts. Richie was young and healthy without any pre-existing medical conditions nevertheless his chance of survival remained questionable for a very long time. He received a total of 14 blood transfusions, his kidneys failed several times, and the coronavirus damaged nearly all of his organs. By the time he was discharged from the hospital in July Richie lost close to 25 kilograms, or 55 pounds. Since then he has grown stronger every week and so far has not shown any signs of long COVID-19 symptoms. It seemed unlikely he would be able to celebrate his 31st birthday in November with his family and friends so his remarkable recovery gave him, his community, along with the entire medical team of at Uzsoki Street Hospital a renewed sense of hope, especially after having to witness the devastatingly crushing loss of close to 90% of their patients in the Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit.

The Intensive Care Unit at the Uzsoki Street Hospital in Budapest, Hungary. The number of coronavirus deaths per capita is extremely high even among the countries with the highest number of infection relative to their population. Hungary’s total number of deaths caused by COVID-19 infection, out of the population of roughly 10 million people, surpassed 40,000 in 2021, making Hungary one of the leading countries in coronavirus deaths per capita.

In March, when he first began to experience symptoms, he did not think there was reason to be concerned. He went to bed at his parents’ house, and woke up in a hospital bed two months later.

The staff at the hospital’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit united as one and fought to save Richie’s life, providing him with constant, around-the-clock care.

His hospital room window was his only connection to the world for a long time.

He survived a severe case of the coronavirus after nearly 50 days on a ventilator, and the 30-year-old Richie’s recovery was slow.

The regular visitations and care from his parents were extremely important to Richie.

Richie needed his patience the most during the 54 days he spent recovering slowly in the COVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit.

Richie felt the warmth of the sun for the first time in May since contracting the virus in March.

Richie needed his patience the most during the 54 days he spent recovering slowly in the COVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit.

With the hope of accelerating his recovery, Richie was being treated with the Bowen-method by one of his doctor specialists.

He was eventually discharged from hospital in July after four months, beating the coronavirus.

Richie celebrated his 31st birthday with his friends on November 28, 2021. Richie is incredibly fortunate to have made such a remarkable recovery after his ordeal in intensive care, and hopefully he can soon begin to return to living life fully.

Richie in his home, December 29, 2021. He received Christmas Greetings from the hospital staff, who still talk about Richie’s remarkable recovery.