The Road to Resilience: Houstonian lives to tell COVID story, becomes advocate against virus (original) (raw)

One week before the most challenging 21 days of his life, Sheldon Weisfeld was 12 feet up on a ladder, in a tree, with a chainsaw, cutting down limbs and dragging 30-pound logs across the yard in the middle of the Houston summer heat.

At age 59, Weisfeld was in great shape and never had experienced any medical problems. He was always full of energy, worked out regularly and hadn’t spent the night in a hospital bed in more than 50 years.

That is why, after Sheldon told his son, Daniel, he wasn’t up for doing much one morning, there was an immediate red flag. He had a mild headache, low-grade fever and chills. A man so full of energy suddenly could not muster enough to get out of bed.

“My daughter, Sarah, got me some fresh grapes and cherries, but they were tasteless,” Sheldon said. “My son made me a pot of chicken soup, and I’m sure it was absolutely delicious, but I told him it was the worst chicken soup he had ever made.”

The loss of taste and smell is one of the first symptoms of the coronavirus, and that was the final indicator that convinced Sheldon he should get tested for COVID-19.

Unfortunately, before the test results could even be confirmed, the symptoms worsened, and Sheldon was having problems breathing. Two days after he was first tested – by then, ironically on Father’s Day – Daniel loaded his father in the car and headed to the Methodist Hospital ER.

“It just wasn’t like my dad, who was always working, always moving, to not want to do anything,” Daniel told the JHV. “My father, who has never had any health issues, was bedridden, barely breathing, and it was very concerning.”

The power of family
Sheldon’s COVID diagnosis was quickly confirmed at Methodist, and he was admitted to the COVID wing, isolated from family and friends for the foreseeable future.

Sarah, Daniel and younger sibling, Natalie, however, made sure they were with their father virtually every step of the way.

“Not being able to be there with him was one of the most difficult and powerless situations I’ve experienced,” Sarah told the JHV. “I remember one day Dad was with the doctor and I was on FaceTime with them. The doctor was nearing the end of the visit and asked me if I had any other questions or needed anything else. I looked at the doctor and said, ‘Yes, can you please just hold his hand.’”

Being away from her father was also difficult for Natalie, who lives in Rhode Island.

“This experience has been heart wrenching for all of us, but my dad managed to maintain a smile throughout the whole battle,” Natalie told the JHV. “Even in a time of struggle, he still held our family together.”

Every morning started with a group FaceTime with Sheldon and his three kids. FaceTime also was used every time a doctor came in the room, for almost every dinner and all throughout the day.

“When someone is sick and hurting, you drop everything,” Daniel said. “Family is everything to us and everything we have at the end. My dad is a family man. I told him, ‘Dad, don’t you ever stop fighting. Go down swinging.’ Obviously, that put tears in our eyes.”

To make matters worse, while Sheldon was trying to fight off the virus with various test drugs in the Methodist’s COVID unit, Daniel was having symptoms of his own.

“It was terrible – my chest hurt, my back hurt, my stomach hurt, my head hurt, but I never stopped. Daniel said. “I just kept telling myself I was invincible.”

While Daniel kept pushing on and quarantining at home, Sheldon remained in the hospital for nearly two weeks before being released.

Just as Sheldon thought he was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, though, things got worse.

The power of pain
After being home from the hospital and quarantining for three days, Sheldon started having a seizure and his body was going into convulsions. Through the power of voice-activated technology, Sheldon was able to call Daniel, who arrived minutes later.

COVID had caused Sheldon’s right lung to collapse and he was spitting out blood; his legs were violently shaking.

“It’s not easy when you are sitting there watching your father in that condition,” Daniel said. “I am asking myself, am I about to sit here and watch my father take his last breath?

“We all have that one unfortunate thing to look forward to at the end of our lives, and that’s death. I was just praying it wasn’t going to be coming in 2020 for my father who is 59 years old.”

Sheldon was rushed back to the emergency room, where he was rolled into the operating room within minutes.

“The doctor came in and said, ‘Sorry to tell you this, but COVID got your right lung and we are going to do a procedure and try to save it.’ I said, ‘When are you going to do it, doc?’ He said, ‘We are going to do it right now.’”

The power of prayer
There were many things that helped get Sheldon through his COVID journey, including the energy and power of prayer.

At least 10 rabbis from all over the Houston community called, texted and video-chatted with Sheldon multiple times along the way.

“One of the worst treatments I was getting was a shot in the belly each day,” Sheldon said. “Rabbi [Jack] Segal called right before one of them and said, let me say the Mi Shebeirach. I said, ‘Rabbi, I have nurse Kim right here and she is about to give me a procedure.’

“He said, ‘Perfect, I will say a prayer for the nurse.’ So, he gave her the prayer and continued to talk to me while she was doing the procedure. It was the easiest time it was done during the 21 days I was in the hospital. The energy and power of prayer is strong – that energy really radiates.”

Beth Yeshurun Rabbi Steven Morgen spoke with Sheldon several times during his hospital stay, offering encouragement and prayers for healing.

“I was very impressed with Sheldon’s strength and determination – not only to fight the virus, but to let others know that this is a serious threat to everyone’s health,” Rabbi Morgen told the JHV. “It is not a joke. It is not a hoax. And, it is not ‘just like the flu.’”

The power of music
With her father in the hospital, Sarah helped his mental state with music and meditation. She organized musicians to perform live on Zoom throughout his second hospital stay.

“We had a concert for 18 nights straight, even upon Dad having returned home since he was still quarantined and we were unable to physically be together,” Sarah said.

What started as concerts for her dad led Sarah to use that healing power for others in the community.

“We are now doing concerts two to three nights a week, including Friday evenings, following our virtual Shabbat,” Sarah said. “We want to spread musical healing to other families and communities who are experiencing the difficulties with having a loved one sick and distanced.

“I believe so much of Dad’s positivity and light was harnessed through the power of community, music and prayer. The healing power of music is exponential, and we realize that so many families who are separated during these times could benefit as we have through the offering of technology and music.”

The power of awareness
While in the hospital, Sheldon created videos documenting his experience, sharing them on social media. Some spread as far as NBC’s National News.

“I think it is critical that people need to take it seriously,” Sheldon said. “When it is inside your own community, it hits home. I’m willing to be that messenger, and if we can help just one other family, we are successful.”

Sheldon returned home in mid-July. He self-quarantined for several weeks after that. Now, more than six weeks of being COVID-free, Sheldon is doing his best to advocate for others to make sure his story doesn’t become their story.

“COVID is real and COVID is real dangerous,” Sheldon said. “And, it doesn’t matter your race, your age, your religion or your physical ability – everyone is susceptible to getting it. This is not a trial run, this is the only run we have and this bug can get you and kill you so quickly.

“When I am in the hospital and the nurse tells me two beds opened up overnight, that’s not because patients were leaving out the front door.”

Sheldon urges everyone to do all the recommended precautions, from wearing a mask to washing your hands to social distancing.

“But, you also can’t live in fear where you start to alienate yourself,” Sheldon said. “I’ve met people who are in fear of everything and you can’t do that. You just have to live and maintain vigilance.”

Sheldon also offered proactive tips, like making sure to pack a phone, long cord and charger when bringing a loved one to the hospital. You also can be more prepared at home, he said.

“What do you have in your home medical toolbox? You might have aspirin, a thermometer and Band-Aids. But do you have an O-2 sensor? My sister picked up one for me, it was a lifesaver.”

The power of healing
While Sheldon is physically almost back to normal, the mental side will take time to heal.

“My dad is one of the most resilient individuals that I have ever encountered,” Daniel said. “It’s incredible the positive mental attitude he’s displayed through all of the hardships.”

Sarah and Natalie agreed.

“It’s been a rollercoaster journey for all of us,” Sarah said. “It’s been an inspiration to watch my father as he literally fought for his breath by himself, but never alone.”

“This virus is terrifying and should not be taken lightly,” Natalie said. “However, it has brought us closer as a family unit, and I’m so happy that he is recovering one day at a time. The battle is not over, but our family is stronger than ever.”

At home recovering, Sheldon said it is sometimes the simple things he appreciates most.

“I wake up in the mornings and I’m grateful that I got up,” he said. “I go outside my apartment door, look out to The Galleria and smell the hot air and I’m grateful I’m able to do that.

“I often remind myself of when Charlie Brown sits down with Snoopy and says, ‘You know Snoopy, we only live once.’ Snoopy says, ‘Charlie Brown, you are wrong. We only die once – we live every day.”