Magna Woman First Utahn To Receive Plasma From COVID-19 Survivor
Apr 20, 2020, 11:11 PM | Updated: 11:21 pm
MURRAY, Utah – A Utah woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 became the first patient in the state to receive plasma from someone who recovered from the virus.
Cynthia Lemus, 24, was placed on a ventilator in the ICU at Intermountain Medical Center earlier this month. She and her husband contracted the virus and followed recommendations of recovering at home.
But Cynthia’s health started to decline a week into the virus.
“She was really struggling and I was like ‘you know what, we got to go to the emergency room,’” said Moises Lemus, Cynthia’s husband.
Within hours, doctors sedated her and put her on a ventilator and a couple of days later started her on ECMO, a machine that acts like an artificial lung, used in extreme cases.
“She had the ventilator and the ECMO machine but she was extremely sick and so the doctors called us said Mayo Clinic is doing a study on with plasma. Of course, we said yes,” Lemus said.
Health officials believe antibodies in the plasma of patients who have recovered can attack the virus.
Lemus started the donor plasma therapy on Friday, but doctors still weren’t sure if it is working for her.
“So now it’s just a waiting game to figure out you know is it going to work,” he said. “We are just really hopeful right now that that will help her and get her back to us.”
Lemus pleaded for others who’ve recovered from the virus to donate and help those who are still fighting.
“Why not give them a shot, give them a shot like Cynthia, give them a shot like everybody else because everybody deserves that chance,” he said.
Intermountain Medical Center has set up an email for those who have recovered from COVID-19 and are interested in donating plasma. Contact them at COVID19Plasma@imail.org.
Coronavirus Resources
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- What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
- What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
- Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
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- Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?
How Do I Prevent It?
The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
How To Get Help
If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.
Additional Resources
If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.