Community welcomes home Wilson man who battled COVID in the hospital for 6 months

Andrew Edwards, 30, and his father were admitted into the hospital in September. His father died a month later.

Cindy Edwards, Andrew's mother, said his return home was bittersweet. Andrew Edwards got a police escort home along their neighborhood street in Wilson. Neighbors and family came to their house on Robin Hill Road to spread love and happiness.

Cindy Edwards kept prayerful vigil in the hospital for 192 days.

During the past 192 days Andrew Edwards was in the hospital, he experienced liver and kidney failures, and a rare allergic reaction that had doctors thinking they might need to amputate his hands and feet.

"I didn't know the boy was so strong," she said. "I didn't know the boy was so determined. I told God I didn't know how talented my boy was, even though he had this tremendous disability."

Andrew Edwards has to undergo three days of physical therapy every week. Volunteers from the family's church built a ramp so Andrew can have wheelchair access to his home.

Mike Edwards, who owned a local company called The Candy Man, was admitted to WakeMed two days after his son.

"I know Mike didn't get to come with us," Cindy Edwards said. "And we miss him greatly. But he's watching from heaven today, I know he is."

Mike and Cindy Edwards had been married since they were teenagers.

"I haven't had time to grieve my husband. So now I've got to come home and start my new normal with my family, my church and God," she said.

Tiffany Purdy, Andrew Edwards' sister, said that Cindy Edwards has been her rock.

"We're so grateful to have Andrew, but we're just as thankful to have our mother," she said