Two brothers survive COVID-19 after their mother dies of coronavirus
Two brothers who survived coronavirus infections are now advocating for other survivors to donate their blood plasma during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mike Mackan and Chris 鈥淭iger鈥� Stockbridge are back together after spending weeks apart.
Stockbridge recovered in late April, but his older brother was still in the hospital after COVID-19 left him in a coma for a week at St. Elizabeth鈥檚 Medical Center in Boston.
鈥淭he hardest part is how it sneaks up on you," Mackan said.
鈥淚 was lucky,鈥� Stockbridge said. 鈥淚 had a much different experience with it than Mike did, but the one thing we kind of had in common is that the virus really attacked our bodies at nighttime.鈥�
Mackan lost 45 pounds during his recovery and was able to return home for the first time in a month on Sunday.
鈥淢ike鈥檚 the toughest guy that I know,鈥� Stockbridge said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the toughest guy I鈥檝e ever known in my life.鈥�
The brothers are happy to have survived together, but are grieving the loss of their mother, Jo, who died just before they both tested positive for the virus.
鈥淲e still haven鈥檛 had closure,鈥� Stockbridge said. 鈥淲e went from one extreme to the next extreme. We still haven鈥檛 had a proper chance to mourn our mother yet.鈥�
Mackan said his life was saved by blood plasma that was donated by a COVID-19 survivor with his blood type.
鈥淥nce they got me the plasma transfer, 24 hours later, I was up and alert,鈥� he said.
last month following his recovery, and Mackan will do the same once it is safe for him to do so.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to using my plasma to save others,鈥� Mackan said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the key. It works, it helps and if that鈥檚 one of the answers, I鈥檓 going to be a part of it.鈥�
The Red Cross is looking for COVID-19 survivors who are willing to donate their blood plasma.