PADUCAH, Ky. (WSIL) -- The COVID-19 experience is unique for everyone whether it's the patient or their family.
One Kentucky woman believes she survived because she and her family didn't give up hope.
After 25 days at Mercy Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, one family says they're celebrating a miraculous recovery.
Susan Rodgers says she's happy to be home after battling the coronavirus.
"It's almost like a dream. But then the other hand, it's a miracle…all togeth--you know, being with them again and God let me see my 68th birthday," she said.
After attending a Sunday church service in early July, Rodgers says she was exposed to COVID-19.
"My oxygen had dropped down to 79, and my lips were blue and one of my other daughters suggested that we call the ambulance," she said.
On July 13th, Rodgers was placed on a ventilator. Visitors weren't allowed in the hospital, but nurses used an iPad for her family to see and communicate with her.
"They were very involved with wanting to have video time with her a lot so she could hear their voices to help her get some stimulation and that's just amazing in itself," said RN Kristin Travis.
Rodgers' family used her favorite church music to help wake her up.
The hospital also used a new treatment method called proning. Six nurses would rotate her body to improve her breathing.
"It was like a great pay off 'cause immediately you would see her oxygen go up and then you'd be able to go down on the oxygen," said RN Jennifer Dimmigren.
"We would do that every 12 hours. So every change of shift we would go in and flip her," said Travis.
Rodgers woke up on August 5th. The following week, she went to Tennessee for physical therapy.
She says she's working hard every day to get her strength back.
"You've got to work at it and I think that's the reason why I'm doing as well as I am," she said.
Rodgers says she's currently dealing with side effects, like numbness in her finger and at the end of her tongue.
She hopes to visit Mercy Lourdes Hospital soon to tell all of the nurses "thank you" in person.
