NJ Doctor Back On The Job After Beating Coronavirus In Nutley

NUTLEY, NJ — A New Jersey doctor is back on the job after recovering from a case of the new coronavirus at his Nutley home.

Earlier this week, the Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison shared some good news about Richard Malone, a specialist who works at the institute’s brain trauma unit.

For more than 26 years, Malone has treated patients with serious brain injuries and illness. But in March – just as the COVID-19 crisis was beginning to slam New Jersey – the veteran physician got his first up-close encounters with the virus.

According to Hackensack Meridian administrators, Malone treated a pair of patients that month – one for a stroke and another for brain trauma. Both later tested positive for the coronavirus. So when Malone woke up on the morning of March 26 with a sore throat, headache and chills, he knew a COVID -19 diagnosis was possible.

Malone didn’t have a cough, chest tightness or trouble breathing, but he did have another telltale symptom of the virus: diminished smell and taste. And that was when the seasoned medical professional knew it was time to self-isolate.

READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

Malone immediately confined himself to a single room at his house in Nutley, then reached out to his colleagues. After getting tested, his suspicion was confirmed: he had the virus.

His five-day journey to recovery began soon afterward.

Battling the symptoms of the coronavirus – including heavy fatigue – Malone’s wife and daughter helped keep his spirits up, bringing him meals at his door. Thankfully, the disease didn’t progress to more serious complications, and he was eventually cleared to return to work.

It was a breath of fresh air, no pun intended.

“You feel a real sense of urgency to get back and help,” Malone said. “Other people were covering for me, and I wanted to be there to support my colleagues and our patients.”

Since beating the coronavirus, Malone has been humble about his recovery, saying that plenty of other health care workers are in his shoes. But his colleagues are thankful the veteran doctor is back on the job.

“It was an inspiration to all of us on the brain trauma unit to see [Malone] back,” commented Laura Mularz, director of JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute Nursing and Patient Care Services.

“Dr. Malone plays such an instrumental role on the unit, and everyone knows his dedication to his patients,” Mularz said. “His commitment to being such a thorough physician probably put him at risk.”

Laura Fazzari, a physical therapy supervisor at the center, said that everybody was rooting for Malone.

“We felt a loss when he was out and we were all elated when he returned,” Fazzari said. “In these times, everybody is scared and worried when someone goes out sick.”

• See related article: Belleville Mayor Has Coronavirus Antibodies; Here's What It Means
• See related article: Nutley Woman, 106, Recovering From Coronavirus

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.