HOUSTON — One Houston firefighter is back at home Friday after spending nearly a week in the hospital battling COVID-19.
“Even now, I’m thinking about how long it will take me to be normal again because I’m still shaky, I’m still weak,” said Cary Hunter from his home Friday afternoon. “According to the doctor, it’ll take me probably a couple weeks before I rid myself of the pneumonia."
Hunter is still COVID-19-positive, but he’s recovering, quarantining at home until at least September 1 while his oldest daughter cares for him.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to leave the hospital,” Hunter said. “I didn’t think I would live to tell about it.”
HFD posted Tuesday on Facebook that Hunter would be going home to continue his recovery.
"Please continue to keep Cary and his family in your prayers," stated the fire department. "Thank you Stations 71, 72, and 94 for coming out to support FF Hunter and showing what HFD family is about."
The nearly 26-year HFD paramedic was always worried about exposure to the virus, even while wearing full personal protective equipment, as the call volume surged.
“Every other call was a COVID patient,” Hunter said. “You can only take so much precaution. To me, it’s Russian roulette, and it’s a matter of time.”
Two days after picking up a COVID-positive patient in late July, Hunter said he had a fever and felt weak. A short time later, he couldn’t breathe, went to the ER, and was put on oxygen.
He spent five days at UTMB Clear Lake, got out Tuesday, then went back the next day and was put in ICU for another day when his oxygen level dropped.
“Sometimes I wanted to give up because I was tired of struggling and fighting it,” Hunter said.
However, he said texts from fellow firefighters and trail riders, along with prayers, gave him strength.
“One night, a couple angels came to my room, asked me was ready to go,” he recalled. “I said no, and I kept fighting.”
On Thursday, Hunter went home.
Now as he works toward rejoining his fellow firefighters at Station 94, he’s urging Houstonians to take the virus seriously to protect the first responders who protect them.
“Wear your mask, use your hand sanitizer, be smart, stay home if you just don’t have to go anywhere,” he said. “If you’re not essential, stay home. It’s not worth it.”
HFD has dealt with roughly 5,000 reported exposures to COVID-19, around 1,000 firefighters quarantined, and more than 200 positive cases.
Two firefighters, Jerry Pacheco and Captain Leroy Lucio, died from the virus.
Captain Tommy Searcy is currently battling COVID in ICU.