A nurse contracted COVID-19 from one of his patients, recovered, and returned to work

with much more resolve and compassion.

Eugene, a 32-year old nurse, was infected by the virus. He discovered it by himself because he
was feeling the symptoms when going home from the hospital, but he also found a way to
confirm it. Reaching home, he set up a tent out in their garden, and slept there to isolate himself.
After a visit from the Austrian health services for testing, his diagnosis was confirmed.  He
sealed off half of the house to keep his family away. For over a week, he treated his cough with
expectorant, his fever with paracetamol, and doubled up on liquids; as a nurse, he was applying
to himself the same care he would dedicate to his patients. He used his isolation to read up on
managing the disease, guidance on how not to infect other people, updates on vaccines and drug
trials for COVID-19, and inspirational stories of recovery. On 23 April he felt the symptoms
wane, and two days later his official isolation period ended. He also decided to extend his
isolation to another week just to be sure – despite his utter eagerness to hold his wife and hug his
son again. He comes back ready with a story to tell them, and reassure his patients that COVID-
19 is not necessarily a death sentence, that only very few die from it. "It did not kill me, and
instead it has made me more resolute and compassionate," he says.

My favorite part of the story is that when he started feeling symptoms, even though they weren't
confirmed by a test, he immediately isolated himself and taught people he could infect. This is
one of my favorite parts of the story because he does the right thing and the best for the safety of
his family and others.

Additionally, when he comes back ready with a story to tell them, and reassures his patients that
COVID-19 is not necessarily a death sentence, only a very small number die from it. "It did not
kill me, and instead it has made me more resolute and compassionate," he says. This is also my
favorite part because he not only motivates his patients but also gives them hope that they will
soon heal and live longer lives.

I don't think there's anything I could change about the story because I believe he makes good and
correct decisions. Furthermore, it is so inspiring that he does not keep the story to himself, but
uses it in his work and shares it to help, motivate, and inspire others, particularly COVID 19
patients, to continue fighting.