MATTHEW COLLINS
WESTFIELD – St. Mary’s High School Principal Matthew Collins is recovering at home after testing positive for COVID-19. Collins is not the “typical” coronavirus patient; he is not elderly, is not immune compromised and has adhered to recommendations to social distance and stay home.
Other than a few trips to the store for essentials, Collins has been home since schools closed March 13. Yet, Collins tested positive for the virus, spent five days in the hospital and has no idea how he contracted the virus.
“I don’t know anyone else who tested positive,” he said from his home April 4. “I cannot pinpoint how I got it – I can only guess it was from someone who was also at a store and didn’t know they had it.”
Collins shared his story so that others would see how easily the virus spreads. Collins said he had a bit of a cough and sore throat two weeks ago but attributed it to allergies.
“It was March and I usually have allergies in March,” he said. But when he started feeling worse, he went to Baystate Noble Hospital March 21.
At that time, Collins said he was not sick enough or showing enough symptoms of the virus to be tested. He was sent home with orders to self-quarantine and monitor his symptoms. A few days later, he returned to the hospital and was admitted.
“I went home and isolated myself from my family,” Collins said. His wife Lynn and their three children who live at home kept their distance. Collins said his cough became progressively worse and he just didn’t feel well.
“I had a low fever and around Tuesday I lost my sense of smell and taste,” he said. “My breathing got worse, too.”
On Wednesday, Collins said he was feeling much better and thought he was on the mend.
“Thursday, I woke up and it was another story,” he said.
Using a pulse monitor, he discovered his oxygen level was in the upper 80s, when it should be in the upper 90s.
“My doctor said to go right to the hospital,” Collins said. “We pulled up and got out of the car and they met us outside and told Lynn she could not come in. She had to leave me there.”
Collins was admitted that day and was given oxygen immediately. He said the staff was top notch.
“I cannot say enough about Baystate Noble,” he said. “The doctors and nurses gave me incredible care.”
Collins said he understands why there is a shortage of personal protective equipment because every time a nurse came in the room they had to be completely covered in new protective gear.
Collins was admitted March 26 and released March 30 after his oxygen levels stabilized. He said it was five of the scariest days of his life.
“I was really scared,” he said. “I was alone. The loneliness was probably the worst part and my fear was that I’d end up on a ventilator dying without anyone. That was the scariest part.”
Collins said the nurses did their best to help combat his loneliness and one nurse brought him treats to cheer him up. He said he kept in touch with family and friends via text because talking with his respiratory issues was difficult.
While Collins didn’t tell many people he was sick, word began to spread, and quietly, the St. Mary’s community began to pray.
“I didn’t want to tell people because I didn’t want anyone to panic,” he said. “People began finding out and praying. The power of prayer is amazing.”
Collins’ advice to the community is to stay home, follow guidelines for protecting themselves when they have to go out and pay attention to how they are feeling.
“I didn’t think I was showing symptoms at first,” Collins said. “If you have a cough or are not feeling great, pay attention to those symptoms and their progression.”
Collins said he is on the mend but remains in isolation until he is symptom-free for a week. He said Lynn has been a trooper.
“She has been doing everything for the past three weeks – I don’t know what we would do without her,” he said.
Collins said he cannot stress enough how seriously people must take the order to stay home and stay away from others.
“It’s hard, but it’s essential,” he said. “Luckily we live in a time of social media and digital technology and can stay in touch. We can stay away and still stay connected.”
Collins said if even one person stays home after learning from his experience, it was worth telling.
