'It can attack anybody': Young teacher who battled COVID-19 provides warning for others

HE IS ENCOURAGING OTHER PEOPLE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. >> IT REALLY HIT ME THAT THIS CAN ATTACK ANYONE AT ANY TIME. DENI: THE 26-YEAR-OLD STARTED WITH A COUGH AND HEADACHE WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY. >> I LOOK AT THE NEXT MORNING WITH 101 FEVER. DENI: HE TESTED NEGATIVE, BUT HIS SYSTEM -- HIS SYMPTOMS WORSENED SO HIS DOCTOR RECOMMENDED HE GET A CHEST X-RAY TO CHECK FOR PNEUMONIA. A FEW DAYS LATER, HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND SAYS HIS OXYGEN LEVELS HAD DROPPED BELOW 90 AND HE HAD A 103 DEGREE FEVER. >> I CAME IN, HAD SHORTNESS OF BREATH, I WAS DIZZY AND WHEEZING. THEY SAT ME IN A CHAIR AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES, I WAS IN A HOSPITAL BED. DENI: HE WAS ADMITTED TO BAPTIST HEALTH FLOYD HOSPITAL. HE WAS TREATED WITH OXYGEN AND A BLOOD THINNER. A CLASSICALLY TRAINED SINGER WITH A BACKGROUND IN DANCE, HE SAYS HE COULDN’T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE BATHROOM WITHOUT GETTING WINDED. >> MY LUNGS ARE IN EXCELLENT AND DEVELOPED SHAPE, BUT IT IS ATTACKING THEM AND I DON’T KNOW WHY. DENI: HE SAYS FOR THE MOST PART, HE’S DONE A GOOD JOB OF AVOIDING BARS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THE VIRUS MAY SPREAD. BUT DESPITE EXTENSIVE SAFETY MEASURES, HE KNEW THAT AS A TEACHER WHO RECENTLY RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM, HE WAS AT INCREASED RISK. >> I NEVER EXPECTED TO GET COVID AND IF I DID, NOT TO THE SEVERITY I AM NOT. DENI: DOMALEWSKI WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL FRIDAY. HE SAYS HE’S FEELING BETTER AND HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS AND EVEN STRANGERS. HIS MESSAGE TO OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE IS TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST, BUT BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES. >> YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE VICTIM. YOU CAN SOMETIMES BE THE CARRIER. IT IS NOT YOU WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT, IT IS GRANDMA A

A 26-year-old teacher is urging young people to take the coronavirus seriously after he spent four days in the hospital with the disease. Jacob Domalewski said about two weeks ago he came home from work and was experiencing a cough and a headache. He slept for several hours and woke up with a 101 degree fever. Domalewski, a teacher from New Albany, went and got a COVID-19 rapid test so he could alert his school to his results. He tested negative. But his symptoms worsened so his doctor recommend he get a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia in his lungs. "There was spotting on the lungs and that's what made them do another COVID test, which came back positive," Domalewski said.A few days later, nearly a week after he first began experiencing symptoms, Domalewski went to the hospital. He said his oxygen levels had dropped below 90 and his fever had gone up 103 degrees."I came in, I had shortness of breath. I was dizzy. I was wheezing. They sat me in a chair and within 10 minutes I was in a hospital bed," he said. Domalewski was admitted to Baptist Health Floyd Hospital where he spent four days in the COVID-19 wing being treated with oxygen and a blood thinner. A classically trained singer with a background in dance, Domalewski explained that he couldn't even make it to the bathroom without getting winded. "My lungs are in excellently developed shape, but it's attacking them and I don't know why," he said.The 26-year-old said with a few exceptions, he's done a good job of avoiding bars and other crowded places where the virus may spread. And despite extensive safety measures, he said he knew that as a teacher who recently returned to the classroom, he was at increased risk of contracting the virus. "I never expected to one get COVID, and not to the severity I've had," Domalewski said. "It really hit me that this can attack anybody at any time." He was released from the hospital Friday afternoon. He says he's feeling better and has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from family, friends and even strangers. His advice to other young people is to do what you think is best, but be willing to accept the consequences."You don't always have to be the victim. You could sometimes be the carrier, and it's not you you need to worry about. It's grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, older people at church," Domalewski said.

NEW ALBANY, Ind. —

A 26-year-old teacher is urging young people to take the coronavirus seriously after he spent four days in the hospital with the disease.

Jacob Domalewski said about two weeks ago he came home from work and was experiencing a cough and a headache. He slept for several hours and woke up with a 101 degree fever. Domalewski, a teacher from New Albany, went and got a COVID-19 rapid test so he could alert his school to his results. He tested negative. But his symptoms worsened so his doctor recommend he get a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia in his lungs.

"There was spotting on the lungs and that's what made them do another COVID test, which came back positive," Domalewski said.

A few days later, nearly a week after he first began experiencing symptoms, Domalewski went to the hospital. He said his oxygen levels had dropped below 90 and his fever had gone up 103 degrees.

"I came in, I had shortness of breath. I was dizzy. I was wheezing. They sat me in a chair and within 10 minutes I was in a hospital bed," he said.

Domalewski was admitted to Baptist Health Floyd Hospital where he spent four days in the COVID-19 wing being treated with oxygen and a blood thinner. A classically trained singer with a background in dance, Domalewski explained that he couldn't even make it to the bathroom without getting winded.

"My lungs are in excellently developed shape, but it's attacking them and I don't know why," he said.

The 26-year-old said with a few exceptions, he's done a good job of avoiding bars and other crowded places where the virus may spread. And despite extensive safety measures, he said he knew that as a teacher who recently returned to the classroom, he was at increased risk of contracting the virus.

"I never expected to one get COVID, and not to the severity I've had," Domalewski said. "It really hit me that this can attack anybody at any time."

He was released from the hospital Friday afternoon. He says he's feeling better and has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from family, friends and even strangers.

His advice to other young people is to do what you think is best, but be willing to accept the consequences.

"You don't always have to be the victim. You could sometimes be the carrier, and it's not you you need to worry about. It's grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, older people at church," Domalewski said.

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