Page 4 - JULY 20 TNT

Editor’s Briefing
by Rebecca Groom Jacobs
OA Close Call With COVID
n April 2, I received a heart-dropping text: “Rich To our extreme joy, on April 11, he awoke! The day before Pickett was put on a ventilator due to COVID. Pray- Easter. He has since baffled everyone with the rapid rate ing for our friend.” of his recovery. Just two weeks after leaving the hospital,
It was the first that I heard that he was sick. And COVID-19? A ventilator? The sinking feeling deepened. The reality of the virus flooding media outlets suddenly hit home with a punch.
As you may know, Rich is a regular Twin & Turbine con- tributor and very involved, passionate pilot. He is also a good friend. It was impossible to imagine anything dampening his incredible energy. (Seriously, I can barely keep up with him at tradeshows!).
Over the next week and a half, I joined countless others in prayers for Rich and his family and followed the daily Facebook updates on his progress.
he was back in the air. And now he has returned to an active schedule of working, flying, traveling, biking, etc. Simply amazing.
But, I will let Rich take it from here. Below he shares a recount of the experience, along with his current mission to assist the healthcare community and recognize the medical staff who saved his life.
Welcome back, Rich. Twin & Turbine and the general aviation community are so fortunate to have you.
COVID - A Pilot’s Experience
by Rich Pickett
“Will I pass my First Class flight physical?”
This was one of my first thoughts when I awakened from an induced coma due to COVID-19. I was in the Intensive Care Unit at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center. While I was surprised to be alive, keeping our medical certificate is critical as pilots!
Twelve days earlier, I had entered the Emergency Room at Kaiser. In an act of stubbornness, I did not go to the hos- pital until my COVID test could be confirmed, which was not advantageous. I had been at home with a high fever and building pneumonia for over a week prior. Using a pulse oximeter my blood oxygen saturation, which is usually 99, was in the 80s resting and lower when standing – not a good sign. It was time to go to the hospital.
Arriving at the ER, my wife Jane was told to stay in the car. I was helped out and into a wheelchair. It was April 1 – April Fools’ Day. I waved goodbye. That would be the last time I would be with her for 17 days.
In the ER, I texted my family financial account details, transferred cash to make sure they wouldn’t have to worry, and told Jane that I hoped she didn’t become infected. I texted one of my friends to sell our SR22 and Eclipse if I didn’t survive, then basically said goodbye to my family. I turned off my phone so I wouldn’t see their replies. At that time, I didn’t expect to survive the night. I later learned that my family shared the same thoughts regarding my survival.
Sherri Case, the ER nurse who first helped me, made me comfortable after the X-ray of my lungs. (It looked like someone had stuffed them with cotton candy!). I signed permission forms for ventilation as well as a “Do Not
2 • TWIN & TURBINE / July 2020
Resuscitate” authorization in case the ventilation didn’t work. I thought to myself, “I have had an amazing life, wonderful family and friends, flown extensively, helped a number of people, and this was just another phase.” I then basically passed out, waking up 11 days later in the ICU.
Dr. Vi Bowman, an infectious disease expert at Kaiser, and experienced with Ebola, SARS and other diseases, was one of my medical team. Dr. Bowman approached Jane and asked if she thought I would want to be involved in a drug trial with Remdesivir. Jane, who has a Ph.D. in Biopsychol- ogy and Neuroscience, knew I would want to consent, no matter the outcome. At that time, little was known about Remdesivir, however, it looked promising. And since I was considered a very severe case, it was worth a try. I became a clinical trial test subject.
Rich’s occluded lung X-ray in the ICU.