Love overcomes COVID-19

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – Carlos Muniz was getting ready to walk down the aisle with his fiancée when he contracted COVID-19 just days before the wedding.  He was admitted to the telemetry COVID-19 unit at Methodist Hospital July 15.   A few days later, his health took a turn for the worse.  He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and placed on ECMO as a last chance for survival.

After nearly a month in the hospital, Carlos remains in the ICU and has tested negative for COVID-19, but his body is struggling to recover fully and he is unable to come off ECMO treatment.

When Grace shared with Carlos’s nurse that they were supposed to marry the week he became ill,  his nurse suggested that they wed in the hospital .  Carlos’s nurse soon recognized a positive change in his motivation.

“Carlos is capable of doing more now than before. He’s fighting for something,” he commented. 

The wedding ceremony took place Tuesday  at Methodist Hospital.  The bride wore the wedding dress she had originally picked out for their special day, and the nurse brought Carlos a tuxedo shirt.  Carlos was able leave his room while on ECMO  with the help of his respiratory therapist, nurse, ECMO specialist and perfusionist.

Though hospital visitation is restricted, exceptions were made to allow the couple’s parents and children to participate in the ceremony. Extended family and friends were able to watch the livestreamed ceremony. 

 The Muniz wedding not only brought joy and motivation to the patient , but it also presented a major victory to the COVID-19 staff at Methodist Hospital.

“It shows COVID-19 really can’t stop love,” said Carlos’s nurse.