44-Year-Old Shares His Covid-19 Symptoms, Says He Didn’t Understand He Had It At First And Might’ve Infected Others
Like Michael Bane’s story showed, COVID-19 can threaten even the healthiest of us. Such was also the case with David Lat, a high-profile lawyer and former federal prosecutor. The coronavirus attacked Lat with all of its might, and the 44-year-old couldn’t beat it on his own. Severe breathing problems, insanely high fevers, and other symptoms got him hospitalized.
But his struggles didn’t end there. Lat was even admitted to the intensive care unit where he was really fighting for his life. When he was on a ventilator and in a “very serious” condition, his husband, Zachary Baron Shemtob, told CNN, “One of the hardest parts here is we can’t visit him. It’s really tough.”
Luckily, Lat pulled through. After he got better, the man shared all the things he went through when fighting the coronavirus to show that it’s no joke.
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Image credits: DavidLat
Lat was in critical condition at NYU Langone Hospital in Manhattan where his fight with the coronavirus had taken a turn for the worse, his husband Zachary Baron Shemtob said. Shemtob told the New York Law Journal that at one point late Friday night or early Saturday morning, Lat was put on a ventilator after “his oxygen levels dropped.”
Shemtob added that the NYU Langone doctors and other staff were “really attending to [David]. They’re taking it hour by hour, day by day.”
You could say all of this was unexpected, as Lat had generally been healthy and in shape. He’s run two New York City marathons and until recently did intense interval training every week and also walked about 25 miles a week.
One of the toughest parts of Lat’s illness, said Shemtob, is that he and Lat’s other family members are not allowed to go to the hospital. Because of the transmittable virus, they can’t be with Lat as he continues to struggle with the illness.
Shemtob explained that doctors had prescribed Lat a Z-Pak (azithromycin) and an anti-malaria drug. They also were using an IL 6-inhibitor to combat the inflammation of Lat’s lungs.
“Please be vigilant and careful as possible,” Shemtob said, speaking for both himself and his husband. “It’s really important to get that message across.”
Luckily, over time Lat got better and is doing much better than he was last week, when he was unconscious and intubated, having a machine breathe for him. He has been transferred out of the intensive care unit and taken off a ventilator, and even though he still needs a nurse’s help for the simplest tasks, he has just progressed to solid foods and is steadily recovering.
Here’s what people said after reading Lat’s story
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My step sister has to wait 9 days to have a test done. She is a nurse in the US and recently held a Covid-19 patients hand whilst they passed away as no family was allowed to visit. Whilst she took all the precautions she has now developed sore throat, fever, severely lethargic and a cough. She is of course doing the right thing and staying at home but waiting 9 days for a test is ridiculous.
I have a feeling a lot of malpractice, negligence, and wrongful death lawsuits are underway
Load More Replies...I think the 'where have you been' category to get tested should be out of the window weeks ago. It spread way beyond that.
Right. I picked husband up at the airport, how am I to know who gave me the flu there?
Load More Replies...Here in the Netherlands we hardly test either. Good friend is in hospital with confirmed Covid-19, but they're not testing his wife, kids or even checking who he came into contact with. They just don't care, they have the kits. As of today they're also stopping to communicate how many confirmed infections every municipality has and will instead only release numbers of hospitalized people. It's as if they are hiding the seriousness of this pandemic.
Don't say they don't care, they work as hard as they can!! Care personell can't take suckdays unless more then 38 degrees fever and showing symptoms like coughing. Retired doctors and nurses are called upon. They work in the danger zone. There is a shortage of testing materials. They do care. Only if you have symptoms you are tested. And if you don't test everyone you the numbers of confirmed infections is kind of useless as there are probably more that are infected. Many have only light symptoms, they are not the ones that are in trouble. The numbers if the ones that are severely ill or die is. Being hospitalised is an indication of being very ill.
Load More Replies...It is an inexcusable TRAGEDY that so few people in the US have been tested. At this point we really have no idea how many people have been infected. As a result, it will be very difficult to flatten the curve because many people had probably been infected before social distancing was encouraged.
I like the response tweets saying he should "hold the hospital accountable" (i.e., sue) for not taking him in. "Our US healthcare system is totally broken, therefore you should slap it with the equally broken legal system, that should clear it up!".
Very sorry you and your family had to endure this and appreciate the info you're sharing, but do very much wish you had taken heed when your body was telling you something is wrong and stayed at home. We are all too familiar with the devil's spawn virus mowing thru everyone in it's path. Much appreciation for the Daily Virus Case testing By Country Chart. Sadly I've wondered, if aside from the lack of test kits, if there is a method to this madness of not testing some cases that are obviously covid 19. When the numbers are scatologically lower in the US than other countries; assuming it remains the same, it would 'appear' numerically that we've had a wonderkin at the forefront of this devastation, that has guided us thru this damnation to the other side to be virtually unscathed in comparison to others abroad. If it were true, they'd be our hero,a shining light in history among a worldwide catastrophe. As most of us know tho, there is no such soul to guide us. Sadly too many of us will feel the far reaching effects of too little too late and decisions made by people who should be playing opposition, but are only using their defense. I wish you all strength and courage to continue to be proactive and be well.
I'm in medical sitautions daily for work, had medical school, etc., so I guess my question would be: Who ever said young and/or healthy people can never get sick?! I've seen kids die of measles in the USA, soooo.... And now, to my job, which means I need to Zoom the daily pandemic briefing. Whee. I really miss the days when Bored Panda was just silly animal pix...
They did say that at the start and it's abundantly clear that they had no idea what they were dealing with and still don't fully. This is too serious to play the averages. While younger people may be LESS at risk anyone can have an undiagnosed health condition that is not giving them any symptoms. Or even just be more susceptible for reasons which are, as yet, still unclear. Yet there are still idiots saying 'it hasn't killed as many people as seasonal flu'. Well, it's not over yet you morons.
Load More Replies...I am so disgusted that folk have not been taking Civid 19 seriously enough, esp. in the US. I live in a retirement complex in Cape Town, SA, we are in total Lockdown, may not leave the Village, to protect ALL of us, Management does our shopping, we just place the order. All group activities are stopped, gym also, dining area is Out of Bounds, booked meals are delivered to our abodes. We are on Day 12 of countrywide lockdown - 7th April. It's boring, but I'm getting things done that have been on the back burner for ages, so HANG IN, THERE!
People need to take responsibility, if you feel sick, stay at home! Dont blame lack of testing if you KNEW you had 'something' going on
You don’t understand- the problem isn’t that he went to the ER and didn’t stay home, the problem is the ER won’t admit someone unless they test positive, but are stingy with testing thus exacerbating the issue by sending people home to “walk it off” and only caring for those who are on deaths door as no hospital is prepared to take care of everyone and fix the issue before it worsens. I imagine a lot of people have died needlessly because by the time they were admitted and tested it was too late.
Load More Replies...Why did he neglect to mention that the malaria drug chloroquine cured him? I would think that would be a VERY helpful piece of information.
I'm sorry that you're going through this, but what part of "If you don't feel well, stay home" did you not understand?
Why people asking for a test? It changes nothing. Keep yourself isolated even if you have no symptoms, and go to IC if you feel like you die otherwise. There is no cure for it, test doesn't change anything. Treat yourself and everybody around you as potentially infected and that's the most you can do for prevention. First slight symptom? Go to full voluntary lockdown. Travelled abroad or affected area? Same. Once you get it it's your fight, hospitals can help only if you cant breath anymore or slightly mild down the symptoms. This is what people should understand and not waiting miracles from testing.
And we read there are two strains of the virus. We may never go out again. I wish you a full recovery.
So once again we see someone who ignored the symptoms and didn't practise self-isolation. You have all the symptoms and tests rule out common flu; why would you demand a further test? Secondary infections like bronchitis are very common. That is why resting at home is so important, even more so during these times.
This virus is highly contagious, and going to the places of stagnant air such as markets is risky. Thus I've bought masks for my family. https://www.epidemiology.amotx.com still gets stocks of masks and sanitizing gel in case anyone is looking for them.
My step sister has to wait 9 days to have a test done. She is a nurse in the US and recently held a Covid-19 patients hand whilst they passed away as no family was allowed to visit. Whilst she took all the precautions she has now developed sore throat, fever, severely lethargic and a cough. She is of course doing the right thing and staying at home but waiting 9 days for a test is ridiculous.
I have a feeling a lot of malpractice, negligence, and wrongful death lawsuits are underway
Load More Replies...I think the 'where have you been' category to get tested should be out of the window weeks ago. It spread way beyond that.
Right. I picked husband up at the airport, how am I to know who gave me the flu there?
Load More Replies...Here in the Netherlands we hardly test either. Good friend is in hospital with confirmed Covid-19, but they're not testing his wife, kids or even checking who he came into contact with. They just don't care, they have the kits. As of today they're also stopping to communicate how many confirmed infections every municipality has and will instead only release numbers of hospitalized people. It's as if they are hiding the seriousness of this pandemic.
Don't say they don't care, they work as hard as they can!! Care personell can't take suckdays unless more then 38 degrees fever and showing symptoms like coughing. Retired doctors and nurses are called upon. They work in the danger zone. There is a shortage of testing materials. They do care. Only if you have symptoms you are tested. And if you don't test everyone you the numbers of confirmed infections is kind of useless as there are probably more that are infected. Many have only light symptoms, they are not the ones that are in trouble. The numbers if the ones that are severely ill or die is. Being hospitalised is an indication of being very ill.
Load More Replies...It is an inexcusable TRAGEDY that so few people in the US have been tested. At this point we really have no idea how many people have been infected. As a result, it will be very difficult to flatten the curve because many people had probably been infected before social distancing was encouraged.
I like the response tweets saying he should "hold the hospital accountable" (i.e., sue) for not taking him in. "Our US healthcare system is totally broken, therefore you should slap it with the equally broken legal system, that should clear it up!".
Very sorry you and your family had to endure this and appreciate the info you're sharing, but do very much wish you had taken heed when your body was telling you something is wrong and stayed at home. We are all too familiar with the devil's spawn virus mowing thru everyone in it's path. Much appreciation for the Daily Virus Case testing By Country Chart. Sadly I've wondered, if aside from the lack of test kits, if there is a method to this madness of not testing some cases that are obviously covid 19. When the numbers are scatologically lower in the US than other countries; assuming it remains the same, it would 'appear' numerically that we've had a wonderkin at the forefront of this devastation, that has guided us thru this damnation to the other side to be virtually unscathed in comparison to others abroad. If it were true, they'd be our hero,a shining light in history among a worldwide catastrophe. As most of us know tho, there is no such soul to guide us. Sadly too many of us will feel the far reaching effects of too little too late and decisions made by people who should be playing opposition, but are only using their defense. I wish you all strength and courage to continue to be proactive and be well.
I'm in medical sitautions daily for work, had medical school, etc., so I guess my question would be: Who ever said young and/or healthy people can never get sick?! I've seen kids die of measles in the USA, soooo.... And now, to my job, which means I need to Zoom the daily pandemic briefing. Whee. I really miss the days when Bored Panda was just silly animal pix...
They did say that at the start and it's abundantly clear that they had no idea what they were dealing with and still don't fully. This is too serious to play the averages. While younger people may be LESS at risk anyone can have an undiagnosed health condition that is not giving them any symptoms. Or even just be more susceptible for reasons which are, as yet, still unclear. Yet there are still idiots saying 'it hasn't killed as many people as seasonal flu'. Well, it's not over yet you morons.
Load More Replies...I am so disgusted that folk have not been taking Civid 19 seriously enough, esp. in the US. I live in a retirement complex in Cape Town, SA, we are in total Lockdown, may not leave the Village, to protect ALL of us, Management does our shopping, we just place the order. All group activities are stopped, gym also, dining area is Out of Bounds, booked meals are delivered to our abodes. We are on Day 12 of countrywide lockdown - 7th April. It's boring, but I'm getting things done that have been on the back burner for ages, so HANG IN, THERE!
People need to take responsibility, if you feel sick, stay at home! Dont blame lack of testing if you KNEW you had 'something' going on
You don’t understand- the problem isn’t that he went to the ER and didn’t stay home, the problem is the ER won’t admit someone unless they test positive, but are stingy with testing thus exacerbating the issue by sending people home to “walk it off” and only caring for those who are on deaths door as no hospital is prepared to take care of everyone and fix the issue before it worsens. I imagine a lot of people have died needlessly because by the time they were admitted and tested it was too late.
Load More Replies...Why did he neglect to mention that the malaria drug chloroquine cured him? I would think that would be a VERY helpful piece of information.
I'm sorry that you're going through this, but what part of "If you don't feel well, stay home" did you not understand?
Why people asking for a test? It changes nothing. Keep yourself isolated even if you have no symptoms, and go to IC if you feel like you die otherwise. There is no cure for it, test doesn't change anything. Treat yourself and everybody around you as potentially infected and that's the most you can do for prevention. First slight symptom? Go to full voluntary lockdown. Travelled abroad or affected area? Same. Once you get it it's your fight, hospitals can help only if you cant breath anymore or slightly mild down the symptoms. This is what people should understand and not waiting miracles from testing.
And we read there are two strains of the virus. We may never go out again. I wish you a full recovery.
So once again we see someone who ignored the symptoms and didn't practise self-isolation. You have all the symptoms and tests rule out common flu; why would you demand a further test? Secondary infections like bronchitis are very common. That is why resting at home is so important, even more so during these times.
This virus is highly contagious, and going to the places of stagnant air such as markets is risky. Thus I've bought masks for my family. https://www.epidemiology.amotx.com still gets stocks of masks and sanitizing gel in case anyone is looking for them.
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