Musician Who Played Violin While On Ventilator Urging People To Get Vaccinated
Dec 15, 2020, 8:56 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Doctors said even those who’ve had COVID-19 should still get the vaccine.
It’s the same message being shared by musician Grover Wilhelmsen, who spent a month being treated for the virus in an intensive care unit.
Wilhelmsen said he takes nothing for granted anymore.
“I’m here for a reason,” he said. “I don’t know what that is, but I’ve been able to survive.
It was only recently he started working at his shop again after an 8-week battle with COVID-19 that landed him in the ICU.
In his darkest hours, while on a ventilator, Wilhelmsen used his violin to bring comfort to himself and to his caregivers.
“Those types of things bring emotion to people,” he said. “And I think that brings relief.”
That relief now comes in many forms.
“I can carry on a sentence now,” Wilhelmsen said. “I couldn’t do that a week and a half ago.”
He said the new vaccine really strikes a chord with him. He encouraged people to get their shot because he doesn’t want to see an encore of the awful virus.
“It’s not a fun picture to be isolated from your family for eight weeks,” he said.
He hopes others will take note and not take the vaccine for granted during this holiday season.
Wilhelmsen would likely fall into the second wave of vaccinations in Utah, which are supposed to go to the elderly, those with underlying medical conditions, and essential workers.
For now, frontline health care workers will be the first to receive the vaccine.
