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A Florida nurse is finally home after spending months in the hospital battling a COVID-19-related illness that left him paralyzed.
Desmon Silva, 22, worked on the frontline of the pandemic at a hospital in Tampa, Florida, last summer when he hired COVID-19.
On July 16, Desmon stopped breathing and was placed on a ventilator, according to a GoFundMe, to cover his medical expenses. He was then paralyzed from the neck down.
Two months after the positive test for coronavirus, Desmon was diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which is a rare disease that affects the nervous system and is usually contracted after viral infections, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.
“It has been difficult. You are somewhat defenseless, in a way,” his father, José Silva, told the news station. “Seeing him smiling and playing really gives us the strength to move forward with his recovery.”
Desmon, who was receiving treatment for his illness in the Boston area, finally was discharged from the hospital and flew home via Jet ICU on Monday, according to the Boston 25 News.
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Jet ICU is a company based in the hometown of Desmon that uses private aircraft as flying ICUs, equipped with all the necessary equipment for any patient. The company offered its services – which usually cost $ 25,000 – to Desmon free of charge, according to the local news station.
“We heard about the case, he’s a local, so come home,” Jared Wayt, director of Emergency Medical Services at Jet ICU, told Boston 25. “It’s very special when we can take care of one of our own., You you know, we’re all health care providers going through it all together. “
At the moment, it is not clear whether his paralysis is temporary or permanent, says his GoFundMe page. However, it is progressing.
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A shared update in January says that he regained the ability to sit on the edge of the bed with some help and was being safely removed from some of his medications.
“Desmon has a long way to go, but we want to give him the best chance possible, removing one obstacle at a time,” says the update.
Despite the current obstacles, “Desmon is still full of life”, according to his loved ones who created the page.
“Desmon’s smile can light up the sky,” says the page. “His laughter can make waves ripple across oceans around the world. His enthusiasm for life can move mountains. He will struggle to come back, but he has a long way to go.”
As information about the coronavirus pandemic changes quickly, PEOPLE is committed to providing the latest data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest information on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use the online resources of COVID-19. CDC, WHO and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from response teams to families in need, as well as organizations that help communities. For more information or to donate, click on here.