Enid Man Survives Coronavirus After 3 Week Battle

One month after an Enid man was hospitalized and diagnosed with COVID-19 he’s well on his way to recovery after spending the last three weeks fighting for his life.

Jimmy Blaser,59, only recalls some details of what he endured. He was overcome with illness and can only remember bits and pieces.

“I worked a full-time job at Tonkowa, and I took care of my cows around my homes and on weekend and the evenings,” said Blaser.

This tough cowboy was no match for COVID-19.

“It robs you of every drop of strength you've got. I couldn't hardly get out of bed by myself,” said Blaser.

Blaser said one day he was healthy when suddenly the illness took hold.

“The next thing I know I start getting sick and my wife's uncle had come down with it, and then her mom come down with it, and I'm getting sicker and sicker and sicker,” said Blaser.

He said after his wife lost her grandfather to COVID-19 she convinced him to get help.

He would spend weeks on a ventilator getting around the clock care.

“Almost three weeks-- I don't remember anything hardly,” said Blaser.

“It reminds me of why I became a nurse. It really does. It gives you hope. you know-- there are dark times right now, and to see a patient like him to just fall back on what brought you to this career,” said St. Mary’s ICU nurse Crystal Gillett.

Jimmy said it wasn't until he woke up that he realized just how ill he had become.

“It could pick out anyone out of a whole crowd, maybe one person out of a whole crowd but it can do it,” he said.

He's working on rebuilding his strength. And he's grateful for all health care workers who helped him.