Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OREM — The lawn of Timpanogos Regional Hospital was adorned with flags to honor the lives lost to COVID-19, those who survived it, and the caregivers and health care workers who cared for the sick.
During a ceremony Monday, dozens gathered to mark two years since the pandemic began and the impact it has had on our community. The event comes days after America hit a grim milestone of one million COVID-19 deaths.
Survivor Larry Barney and his wife talked to the audience about his fight with the virus. The 33-year-old spent five months in the hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms.
"It hit me, it hit me hard," Barney said. "I didn't know it was that serious, I didn't know that it could take somebody of my age."
Doctors told his wife, Chelsey, he had a 5% chance of living.
"When he was intubated I knew it was just was not good," she said. "Most days all we could do was pray for a miracle."
Larry said his survival was only made possible by those who cared for him at the hospital and family who stayed by his side. He credits the sounds of his little son as a motivation in the fight against COVID-19.
"Hearing his little voice over and over just kept me going," he said.
The event also honored hospital staff including ICU doctors and nurses and respiratory therapists. Those in attendance were encouraged to place their own blue flag to honor the work done being these health care heroes.
