LI Man, 44, Discharged From St. Joseph Hospital After 74 Days

BETHPAGE, NY — Jerome Smith, one of the first coronavirus patients to be admitted to St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage, was discharged on Tuesday, the hospital announced in a news release.

Smith, 44, of Copiague, is a New York City sanitation worker. He was experiencing shortness of breath, a cough, sore throat and fatigue. After being hospitalized for 74 days, Smith will finally get to physically see his wife, Janelle Chambers, and their six kids for the first time in months since visitors were not allowed in the hospital. It is believed that Smith contracted the virus at work, the hospital stated.

Video courtesy St. Joseph Hospital

Smith was intubated twice during his stay. He also suffered kidney failure, received a tracheostomy (which has been removed), a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and dialysis as result of the kidney failure, according to the hospital. While still recovering and still on dialysis, Smith is alert and can breathe and eat on his own. He will be brought to a specialty rehab facility by Hunter Ambulance where he will continue to recover ­­­and gain his strength.

Dr. Jerry Ipe, a pulmonologist who cared for Smith, said his patient's hospital stay was "very tumultuous."

"He was one of our sickest patients," Ipe said. "However; after many weeks we were able to get him to breathe on his own. It was truly a team effort — and the determination of the staff and Jerome was the driving reason. We hope he continues to get stronger and be able to reunite with his family soon."

Melissa Marcolini, a St. Joseph speech pathologist who cared for Smith, called his recovery a miracle.

"I am honored to have been part of the medical team that saved his life and bring him back to his wife and six children — just in time for Father's Day," she said.