ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith was back on First Take on Monday morning after nearly a monthlong absence due to a positive test for COVID-19. Though Smith initially described his symptoms as mild when the positive test was announced on Dec. 21, he would share that the experience became much worse as time went on.
According to Smith, he ended up being hospitalized after COVID-related complications and developed pneumonia in both his lungs. Doctors would end up telling him that he likely wouldn’t have survived his battle with COVID if he wasn’t fully vaccinated. He credited the vaccine for saving his life during Monday’s edition of First Take.
"And they told me had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn't be here. That's how bad I was."
— ESPN's @stephenasmith details his recent, nearly fatal battle with COVID pic.twitter.com/jtkZV62RIA
— The Recount (@therecount) January 18, 2022
He said:
“I had 103 degree fever every night, woke up with chills, a pool of sweat, headaches were massive, coughing profusely. And it got to a point that right before New Year’s Eve, I was in the hospital New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day. That’s how I brought in the new year.
“And they told me had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be here. That’s how bad I was. I had pneumonia in both lungs. My liver was bad, and it ravaged me to the point where even now I have to monitor my volume. Gotta get in the gym everyday, walk before you run, work your way back because I’m still not 100 percent with my lungs, but I’m COVID negative. And all of that stuff. And I’m on the road to recovery.”
Let’s hope he continues his road to recovery.
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