Heart of Gold
COVID-19 Positive: Alumnus Shares his Story, Blood Plasma to Help Others On Day 8 after his COVID-19 diagnosis, Jeff Yonkers ’92 ventured out from his home’s basement in Suffolk County on Long Island and set his chair to face the sun and away from the house. That way he could shield his family from the virus and also from seeing the panic that was setting in. He had been doing everything right since his diagnosis on March 18; he moved himself into the basement away from his wife, their children and the dog. He ate, slept, watched TV and worked down there. And yet, he worried. He knew from other COVID-19 patients’ journeys that Day 7 and 8 seemed to be a turning point—as many people got markedly better or dramatically worse. “I was so stressed about this day that I thought at times I was going to have a heart attack as my heart was racing and pounding,” he recalled. “I did feel a little congestion in my throat and lungs, and I was thinking, ‘Okay, this is going to be the day where I am going downhill.’” He managed to keep his composure, and when he woke up the following morning, he had turned the corner. “No sweats, no drip, no congestion, no fever, no headache and no chills,” Jeff said. “I felt about 98% back to normal. I felt like the 1,000-pound gorilla came off my chest.” He doesn’t know where he got infected with the virus, which made him feel exhausted, achy, chills, sweats. Plus, he lost his sense of taste and smell for two weeks. He said he is extremely grateful for his family and friends, who helped carry him through this illness. Now, he is sharing his story with others to give people hope and for reference to their own experience.
The college also began wastewater testing twice per week of its buildings and 12 residence halls on campus to collect data and identify possible COVID-19 cases.
Dr. Jerri Howland, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, collects saliva tests during Opening Weekend in August.
In consultation with SUNY and health agencies, the college paused face-to-face classes on SEPT. 19 for 14 days to stem the spread of the virus. It worked, and the college was able to resume in-person classes on OCT. 5. “I credit the SUNY Oswego community, particularly our students, in keeping their campus open by proving that strict compliance to health safety protocols can flatten the curve,” said Chancellor Jim Malatras on OCT. 2. “Today’s progress at SUNY Oswego shows that by regular testing, tracking and acting on new cases, and enforcing health and safety rules, campus life can continue during the coronavirus pandemic. I am proud of our SUNY Oswego students for all of their efforts over the past two weeks.” Although in-person classes resumed in OCTOBER, the college suspended athletics, Greek Life, in-person dining and residence hall visitation for the remainder of the semester. “We are returning to the classrooms, but we must not let our guard down,” President Stanley said in OCTOBER. “Our actions are critical to the continued safety of everyone in our community. We have collectively displayed to others that when we pull together, care for one another, and follow the rules and guidelines, WE CAN BRING OUR POSITIVE CASES DOWN AND COME OUT OF A PAUSE STRONGER AND HEALTHIER THAN BEFORE.” As the end of the semester approached, the college again amped up its testing efforts to ensure that every student tested negative for the virus before leaving campus for their homes. It also became clear that resuming normal activities would not be likely any time soon.
Carrying On
“Stay positive, keep in touch with friends, isolate completely, get outside, sit upright and most importantly laugh,” he advised anyone who tests positive.
The college made the difficult decision to hold a virtual Commencement ceremony for all May, August and December 2020 graduates at the end of the Fall 2020 semester.
He has donated his antibody-rich plasma to help critically ill COVID-19 patients three times.
“While we’ve remained cautiously optimistic since the spring, we have resolved to the fact that we still have not reached a point where we can safely hold an in-person celebration,” President Stanley told graduates in NOVEMBER. “However, we don’t want the year to come to an end without properly recognizing you in an official Commencement ceremony.”
“Since I got through this, it’s very important to try to help others who may be worse off,” he said. “I pray we all get through this quickly.”
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As the numbers of on-campus cases rose in EARLY SEPTEMBER, the college announced a new and expanded surveillance testing operation with a dedicated testing center in Lee Hall, and it doubled the number of available quarantine and isolation rooms by re-opening the newly renovated Funnelle Hall and increasing the total quarantine rooms to 208 and isolation rooms to 144 (total of 352 rooms).
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WINTER 2021
