‘I’m just so blessed’: Osceola County nurse describes her recovery from COVID-19

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Margaret Reed says every time she takes a full deep breath, she feels blessed.

“I can breathe so every day I just take deep breaths, like Lord, I can breathe, and (before) I couldn’t,” she said. “I’m just so blessed."

The Osceola County nurse tested positive for COVID-19 and ended up in the hospital in late March.

"I was having body aches and feeling really, really weak,” she said.

Reed is now continuing to recover at home. She said she is still feeling the effects of the virus more than two weeks later.

"I'm still having a little shortness of breath at times and a little bit of chest discomfort, but for the most part I'm doing well,” she said.

Reed was tested for the virus for a third time earlier this week, but the test came back positive.

The coronavirus appears to be lingering in her body, and she needs two negative tests in a row before she can go back to nursing.

For now, she said she’s still waiting to hear back from unemployment office about receiving benefits so she will be able to pay her bills.

She said her advice to others is to continue social distancing, because coronavirus is no joke.

“I don’t know what the solution is for people. Until it actually hits their home I guess they won’t believe it,” she said.

“I pinch myself every day that I made it through.”

Reed said she hopes to donate her plasma in the hopes of helping others, but she won’t be able to do that until she gets two negative tests in a row.

Video: Rare coronavirus symptoms to look out for A look at some of the less common symptoms that could be a sign of the coronavirus.

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com