HARTFORD, Conn. — Cheers, tears, and sighs of relief at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, as 61-year-old John Ryan walked out, after 59 days of battling COVID-19.
"I feel wonderful. Right now there’s so much adrenaline going it’s amazing, my heart is so full," he said.
Ryan is an EMT in the town of Suffield. His colleagues lined up their vehicles outside, for a show of support, to one of their own.
"It’s important to know that we haven’t forgotten about him, his community hasn’t forgotten about him," said John Spencer, chief of
Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Service.
It told a lot about who he is, someone loved by those around him. Not just those who worked alongside him, but those who have gotten to know him through his recovery as well.
"Extremely dedicated. He is someone that serves our community at least 2 or 3 days a week, despite not even being a resident of our community he comes and volunteers his time to the town of Suffield," said Spencer.
"His strength, his determination, his will has really led him to where he’s at today," said Steven Kunsman, director of operations at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.
Now that his own life has been saved, Ryan says he’s looking forward to getting back to helping save others.
"EMS is part of me now, I can’t not do it. There’s so many people out there that need help, and at least it’s something I can do. It would be like ripping my heart out not to go back," he said. Even though it’s likely how he contracted COVID-19.
"I want to be back in that truck. It’s just, it’s just part of me now i can’t let it go," said Ryan. "It’s just what I live for. I have dreams of being in the truck," he said.
Ryan says he hopes to be back to work by October.