Colorado hospital celebrates 500th discharge of COVID-19 patient

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (KRDO) -- It was a happy day for a hospital in Westminster as they celebrated discharging their 500th COVID-19 patient.

José Diaz, 42, was admitted over a month ago to Centura -- St. Anthony North Health Campus. He wasn't expected to survive what would end up being a 40-day stay in the ICU. He even marked his birthday while on life support and unawares.

In a release sent to KRDO Friday, Centura Health officials said Diaz was one of their first patients to receive COVID-19 convalescent plasma. After that, Diaz began to improve and is now expected to make a full recovery.

By Friday, he had recovered enough to leave the hospital. He was discharged with cheers, music and balloons. His family was waiting to greet him.

“I am just thankful for this hospital; the people here have saved my life. If it wasn’t for the staff here, I wouldn’t have survived. Against all odds I’m here,” said Diaz in the release.

Diaz isn't going home just yet. He'll finish out his recovery at a secondary care facility, according to Centura Health.

“Nothing gives us more joy than to see the recovery of a patient with this difficult and isolating disease,” stated Dr. Shauna Gulley, Chief Clinical Officer for Centura Health, in a statement. “Many of these patient discharges occur after weeks in the ICU, many patients using ventilators, it is a powerful reflection of the lifesaving care being provided by our doctors, nurses and other caregivers across Colorado and western Kansas.