Jason Chapman

Welcome to our story. COVID vs the Chapmans. On 5/22/21 both Jason and Liam (our son) were diagnosed with COVID 19. After a year and a half into this pandemic, things were looking positive as life seemed to be returning to normal, or so we thought. We felt we had skated pass anyone getting sick, until Jason started feeling unwell. He was tested 4 days prior and was negative. We decided to carry on with life as it was. Everyday, he continued to feel worse, so we decided to test again, within seconds his test returned a positive result. Thankfully, we have a house where we can isolate him, so to the basement he went. We had to move Liam out so we could all isolate. Later that evening, Liam started to complain of not feeling well with a headache for about 3 days. Both he and Camden (our youngest), were tested. Liam was also instantly positive. Back to the basement he went. He is on the mend to a full recovery. Jason, however, not so much. On the Monday following his positive results (24th) Jason felt pretty short of breath. We decided to go the ER. There, he was assessed and sent back home. So that's what we did. He continued to not feel great and by Wednesday, he felt pretty terrible. At that point, we decided to head back to the ER at which, they told him he wasn't ill enough and to go home and monitor his pulse ox. So that is what we did. Fast forward to Friday 5/28....I had left for work as everyone was still tucked in and sleeping. Soon after I received a call from Liam...it wasn't Liam, it was Jason. His plead for help sent me running out of the building to aid him. As I arrived home, he was breathing terribly with Liam trying to assist him. I was not able to assist him as he could not stand without almost falling over or as he stated "felt like passing out." I decided to call 911 as I did not feel comfortable taking him to the ER in this condition. They arrived and his oxygen levels were at 84% dipping down to 79%. For a normal healthy person, you should be around 97-100%. They put oxygen on him at 15L/nasal cannula. This is a lot. His levels come up to about 90%. Off they went but not before reminding me that I could not go with. With current COVID restrictions, no one, even me being fully vaccinated, not allowed. Ugh the frustration. I later called the ER, they decided to admit him as his repeat chest xray now showed he had COVID pneumonia. Exactly what we were trying to avoid with our previous ER visits. They then informed me that he had to be on high flow oxygen at 40/40 (40 liters/min and 40% humidity) . For those who do not know what this is, this is a lower setting of high flow but what they use to prevent intubation/ventilator. They were able to give him steroids and a medication called Actemra. I am not familiar with this medication but with a quick search, it is an immunosuppressant. They said it is to help prevent lung damage from the pneumonia.  Due to the onset of his symptoms, he was not eligible for Remdesivir. Had he been admitted earlier in the week he would have been.  Later Friday night, as I was talking with Jason, he starting to have increased difficulty breathing and could not recover his oxygen levels despite the supplemental oxygen he was on. They ended up having to increase his high flow to 50L/min. Unfortunately, with my knowledge, I knew where this could head...would it...won't in...I just don't know and we are not in the clear yet. Jason is scared, alone and can't breathe.  We have our faith and trust in God's divine intervention. This fight is just begun...