A firefighter from Arizona has lastly left the hospital after a four-month keep as the results of severe COVID problems throughout which he virtually misplaced his life.

Brad Henderson, 52, was solely in a position to stroll throughout a gong-ringing ceremony to mark his discharge from Banner Rehabilitation Hospital in Phoenix with assistance from a walker, ABC 15 reported.

The Yuma firefighter, who's a father of two, was unvaccinated when he was air-lifted to Banner College Medical Heart in October. On the hospital, Henderson was first positioned on a ventilator, then he was positioned on a tool that oxygenates the blood outdoors the affected person's physique known as an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine.

The firefighter for the Yuma Military Proving Floor with twenty years of service spent 55 days on the ECMO along with his blood flowing by tubing to a man-made lung within the machine that provides oxygen and takes out carbon dioxide. His blood was then warmed to physique temperature and pumped again into his physique.

His spouse Shannon Henderson instructed the Arizona information station: "He had so many well being points that occurred on the identical time, collapsed lungs. Afib, infections. That is what's so arduous, not having the ability to do something."

After coming off the ECMO, Henderson entered rehab with one in all his therapists saying that he was now to the purpose in his restoration the place he can stroll a complete of 120 ft and solely wants 2 liters of oxygen to help his exercise.

One other therapist added: "He is actually made tons of enchancment and largely that is due to his work ethic."

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) has stated that individuals like Brad Henderson who're unvaccinated have a larger threat of dying on account of COVID-19 than people who find themselves totally vaccinated.

The company has stated that unvaccinated individuals in all age teams have greater case and loss of life charges than totally vaccinated individuals in the identical age teams, with these charges a lot decrease for individuals vaccinated with all three COVID vaccine sorts.

As of December 2021, CDC statistics confirmed that unvaccinated adults over 18 had 5 instances the chance of testing optimistic for COVID, unvaccinated adults had been 16 instances extra prone to be hospitalized on account of COVID, and, as of November 2021, they'd 68 instances the chance of loss of life on account of COVID compared to vaccinated adults.

For adults in the identical age vary as Henderson, 50-64, the CDC stated that unvaccinated individuals had been 45 instances extra prone to be hospitalized with COVID than vaccinated individuals who had acquired a booster shot.

The Yuma firefighter instructed ABC 15 that he is aware of he has much more remedy to bear on account of his brush with COVID.

The 52-year-old who instructed the station he was trying ahead to grabbing a Whataburger and seeing his canine Professor, added merely: "It has been a very long time."

The Colorado State Joint Data Heart instructed Newsweek: "The very best safety in opposition to COVID-19 and its variants is to get vaccinated and keep updated on vaccinations.

"We urge all adults and all mother and father and guardians of youngsters 5-17 to make a vaccine appointment, and for these 12 and up, to get a 3rd dose when it's time."

Man in hospital bed
A inventory picture displaying a person in a hospital. A 52-year-old firefighter from Yuma who was unvaccinated was hospitalized for 4 months after contacting COVID and might now stroll simply 120 ft. DigitalVision/GETTY