After two weeks in intensive care and a week on a ventilator, a Mercy Hospital South patient headed home last week on his birthday, his coronavirus battle behind him. After being admitted on his daughter’s birthday, April 2, the patient, who only wanted to be identified by his first name Bill, left through the lobby with his wife, Lynn, to cheers from workers lining the halls on his 68th birthday April 23.

Bill was treated with convalescent plasma donated by someone who had recovered from COVID-19. The Army veteran plans to repay that kindness by donating his own plasma when he meets the requirements.

“My donor’s a very special person,” Bill said, choking up. “He kind of saved my life in a way, the physical way, and then I had my family and my friends and all the hospital staff that has supported me mentally and physically through all this isolation.”

Mercy South calls a “Code Sunshine” to celebrate COVID-19 patients as they leave. The entire hospital hears, “May I have your attention, please? Code sunshine, code sunshine.” Bill said his nurses and doctors at Mercy South were “extraordinary people” and compared the fight they face every day to his six years in the U.S. Army.

“These people have to keep on on the battlefronts and be strong and take care of people so they can get through this also,” he said. “Don’t give up if you get this virus, it’s a fight… but don’t ever give up. And if you do contract it, these people at this hospital and the nursing staff will absolutely take care of you.”

For birthday plans, Bill said he was going to “just have some peace and quiet, be with my bride… just chill out and just not have a bunch of wires on me, oxygen on me and just — celebrate my birthday.”

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‘Code Sunshine’ is a welcome birthday gift: After being admitted for COVID-19 to Mercy Hospital South on his daughter’s birthday, April 2, Bill finally went home last week with his wife, Lynn – on his own 68th birthday. Bill, a COVID-19 patient who only wanted to provide his first name, spent three weeks at Mercy Hospital South, with a week on a ventilator and two weeks in intensive care. He was treated with convalescent plasma donated by someone recovered from COVID-19. Mercy South calls a ‘Code Sunshine’ to celebrate with COVID-19 patients as they leave the hospital. After Bill left through the lobby with Lynn to cheers from workers lining the halls, some of his nurses and therapists signed his shirt with their motto ‘Stayin’ Alive.’