Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital celebrated the recovery and discharged a 79-year-old COVID-19 patient Monday.

Jose Miranda Jr. was released from Henry Mayo Hospital after being on their premises since March 31, and in the COVID-19 unit since mid-April, according to his daughter, Charisse Hammer.

“It was stressful,” Hammer said. “I knew my dad was in such good hands and I was involved in his care. I had downtime and I’d go there because I was assigned to the COVID unit. Made sure he was comfortable.”

Hammer is a registered nurse at Henry Mayo, currently working in the COVID-19 care unit at the hospital.

“I was not able to interfere with his care but I made sure he was okay,” Hammer said. “I think that was really hard and that COVID was still evolving and I was only working in the unit two weeks prior to this. Knowing the possible outcomes from what we had witnessed probably made the anxiety worse. As a nurse, you know what way this could turn.”

Being assigned to the COVID-19 care unit, Hammer was placed in a position where she was able to visit her dad who was being treated for the coronavirus, where visitors are not permitted.

Miranda Jr. was placed on a ventilator to assist his breathing during his stay in the COVID unit, according to his daughter.

“He’s 79, very high-risk category and high risk to intubate,” Hammer said. “They planned on (removing his tube), we waited and he came off. He did so well. I’m glad they were waiting.”

Jose Miranda Jr. is home now, and is being taken care of by his daughters.

“As a nurse we all understand that once an elderly patient is admitted the reentry level is high,” Hammer added. “Just because he’s discharged- he’s still a vulnerable human being. I am now hyper-vigilant and I’m looking out for everything.”

David Melnarik / KHTS News

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