WHEN COVID-19 STRIKES

A GRATEFUL COUPLE GIVES BACK AFTER RECEIVING MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TREATMENT AND TOP-NOTCH CARE

By Dave Scheiber | Photography by Cara DeHart Lewis

Until you hear Stuart and Karessa Lasher reflect on the last year, you would never imagine the ordeal that is still fresh in their minds. They look like the picture of health on the screen of a morning Zoom call, their words punctuated by laughter and energy. But their message is unmistakably serious: one of deep gratitude to Tampa General Hospital for getting them through their frightening bouts of COVID-19.

The Lashers had done everything right from the start. They followed all the social distance and mask protocols after the pandemic hit in March 2020. They quickly transitioned their family-owned business, Quantum Capital Partners, Inc., into a remote operation to protect employees and their families. And they left the house only for shopping or essential trips, always adhering to safety guidelines.

But through sheer bad luck of the COVID draw, Stuart and Karessa were exposed to the virus by a family member. An initial test came up negative, but soon after each of them began feeling ill—Karessa with a fever and chills, Stuart with headaches and gastrological symptoms. A few days later, both of them tested positive.

“The uncertainty is very scary,” Stuart said. “You don’t know if you’ll be one of those on a bad track, in the middle, or mild.”

The couple immediately turned to TGH and received care from Dr. John Sinnott, chief epidemiologist at TGH and chair of Internal Medicine at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “Dr. Sinnott was so reassuring,” Karessa said. “We feel very blessed by the care—both emotional and medical—he provided.”

At Sinnott’s recommendation, both Stuart and Karessa received an infusion of monoclonal antibodies at Tampa General’s new Global Emerging Diseases Institute. In November 2020, Tampa General became the first hospital in Florida to offer this treatment, which is used to lower the risk of contracting more severe symptoms.

Once they received antibodies, the Lashers were able to return home while staying connected to TGH through Sinnott and the hospital’s COVID telehealth program. They called in their temperature and oxygen levels twice a day, and TGH clinicians remained in constant contact.

“We were very impressed with the ‘culture of care’ at TGH,” Stuart said. “Every employee who we came into contact with at TGH provided five-star customer service.”

Fast-forward several months and the Lashers are doing great—and feeling grateful for the care they received and witnessed others receiving. Always philanthropic in nature, they have already supported other TGH programs in the past. Now they’re talking with Sinnott about new ways to support TGH, especially in the research of infectious diseases.

For the Lashers, giving back to a place that has given so much to them is an uplifting part of the healing process. The role of gratitude in healing is a force that’s actually receiving more scientific study

“ T h e p o w e r o f e x p r e s s i n g g r a t i t u d e i s b e c o m i n g a w e l l - r e s e a r c h e d a n d m u c h m o r e u n d e r s t o o d c o n c e p t , ” s a i d S e e m a W e i n s t e i n , P h . D . , m a n a g e r o f T G H P s y c h o l o g y a n d N e u r o p s y c h o l o g y . “ O n e o f t h e c o r e c o n c e p t s i s t h a t y o u ’ r e a f f i r m i n g t h a t t h e s o u r c e o f g o o d n e s s i n t h e w o r l d i s o u t s i d e o f y o u r s e l f . I t h i n k t h a t ’ s t h e k e y f o r b e n e f a c t o r s w h o a r e g r a t e f u l p a t i e n t s a n d g r a t e f u l g i v e r s . ”

For the Lashers, it’s just part of who they are and how they live. “We feel so fortunate to have TGH in our community,” Stuart said, “and we love being able to give back in any way we can.”

WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE ‘CULTURE OF CARE’ AT TGH. EVERY EMPLOYEE WHO WE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH AT TGH PROVIDED FIVE-STAR CUSTOMER SERVICE.” —Stuart LaSher