Local COVID-19 patient discharged from GMHC after 65 days
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital and Clinics (GMHC) celebrated the discharge of COVID patient Royce Hansel on Jan. 15, after 65 days on the patient care unit.
Royce tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 8, at GMHC. His symptoms worsened at home, causing his wife, Janan, to call the GMHC COVID-19 Line. It was determined that Royce should be brought to the emergency department, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia due to active COVID-19. He was admitted on Nov. 12.
Royce was critically ill for his first six weeks at GMHC, taking a turn for the better in mid-December. After 65 days, Royce is now able to return home.
“The first month was so rough,” reflected Royce. “There were days when I didn’t want to fight for my life anymore. But I made it! I received top-notch care while I was here, but I’m happy to be going home.”
“It is impossible to express how much appreciation we have for the staff who cared for Royce while he was at GMHC,” Janan expressed through happy tears. “We especially want to thank the respiratory therapists, who went above and beyond, working with Royce to keep his lungs breathing.”
When Royce was released at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 15, the GMHC staff lined the hallways to bid him farewell.