Nurse’s COVID story: ‘Thank God that I’m alive’

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

Nancy Auch thought she’d be sick a few weeks and then she’d be fine. Her treatment lasted much longer.

Auch is a retired nurse who lives in Scotland in southeast South Dakota. She knew it was important to watch her oxygen levels. When they dropped, she was admitted to Landmann-Jungman Memorial Hospital Avera.

Later, she was airlifted to Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center as her condition worsened. There, she received intensive care and was intubated for 17 days.

She was released from the hospital just before Christmas. Her road to recovery was far from over and included rehabilitation at Landmann-Jungman.

Here’s the story of her treatment and recovery.

Vaccinations are an effective way to slow the spread of COVID. Dr. David Basel, Avera Medical Group vice president of clinical quality, said a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proved that for people who are unvaccinated, the chance of getting COVID-19 is more than double. Vaccines also help keep people out of the ICU.

If you have symptoms of COVID, get tested and follow the recommended guidelines.

Learn more about COVID treatment and where to get vaccinated.