Thanking God for another day: NC couple shares COVID-19 survival story

With more than 2,400 new cases reported today, the rolling average hit the highest point we have seen in the pandemic so far, at 2,381 cases.

With 50 new deaths reported, the curve hit its highest point - of 37 deaths per day.​

However, one patient no longer in the hospital is David McShaw.

The Oxford man and his wife both recovered from the virus – even though in their darkest moments, they both weren't sure they would ever leave the hospital alive.

"We just thank god that we were two of the ones that made it through," said Jacqueline McShaw.

Testing positive for COVID-19 was a rude awakening for the couple.

“For those who say it’s a hoax and say that it’s not real, we’re a witness that it’s real," she said.

In September the two came down with what they thought were cold-like symptoms.

While at a UNC Hospital to be tested for the virus, the doctors noticed David, who has a compromised immune system due to a recent kidney transplant, wasn’t doing well, and they rushed him to the emergency room.

"That was maybe one of the worst days of my life, not being able to go in with him," she said.

Jacqueline was sent home to self-quarantine while David was admitted.

David remembers the awful day, too, saying, “I was lying in the bed and I said I got to fight, I have to fight and stay alive. But after the journey really started, I wanted to give up, I really did.”

After a few weeks David’s symptoms had worsened.

“I just couldn’t take it no more," he said. "You’re trying to breathe, and it feels like someone’s standing on your chest.”

At one point he even asked his wife to do an impossible task.

"There were days where he’d say, ‘look, I can’t do this anymore. Go ahead and make funeral arrangements. You know who to call,'" said his wife.

But David’s family, nurses and doctors weren’t going to let that happen.

After being placed on a ventilator for a week, David started to get better.

Shortly after, he began rehab where he learned how to walk again.

Jacqueline has fully recovered and is grateful to have her husband back home.

As for David, he still has a few hurdles to overcome and is temporarily on oxygen while his lungs continue to recover.

But after nearly two months surrounded by doctors, he could finally go home.

"Get me out of here!" he said. “I feel great, I really feel good. It felt kind of strange as we were getting in the car. I was looking around at the scenery while we were on the interstate and I was thanking God for allowing me to see another day.”