After near-death experience with COVID, Greenville pastor puts emphasis on vaccinations – Greenville News

When the Rev. Windell Rodgers left the pulpit on December 20, 2020, he never anticipated the journey he'd have to take to return.

Rodgers spent a total of five months in the hospital, including five weeksin an induced coma and three weeks on aventilator, after contracting COVID-19.

But, with the help of prayers and "angels" in the hospitals, he was able to preach again at his church, Greater Mount Calvary Baptist, for the first time in six months on June 19, Father's Day.

The sermon, he said, in part, was a wonderful opportunity to use his sickness to encourage others.

Rodgers said he doesn't have as much right as anybody else to still be alive, but "I'm still here.

"So the rest of my life now is committed to trying to identify purpose or even more purpose as to why I'm here and influence and impact the lives of others," Rodgers said. "Ourworld still needs some help. Our communities need some help."

PatriciaRodgers never expected what happened to her husband - her high school sweetheart - to happen. Neither did he.

Their home and church lives stressed following COVID-19 safety guidelines wearing masks, social distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing the facilities.

Thered been people in the church whod gotten COVID, but the illness was short-term, Windell Rodgers said. It was nothing like news reports where a whole church got infected by somebody whod had it, he said.

When I got sick, I was the only one who got sick," Windell Rodgers said. "I got so sick, people said, Whered you get it (the virus)? I said, I wish I knew. I dont know.

He does recall feeling weak after delivering the sermon in late December. But at the conclusion of the service, he'd hung around the church, fellowshipped with youths who'd lingered. He went home, had dinner with his wife and his daughter, Wendi.

That evening, he felt a need to go to the hospital.

I just knew something wasnt right so thats what made me go to the hospital, he said. I wasnt thinking COVID.

When he arrived at Hillcrest Hospital, he said believed hed be home the next day.

Tomorrow turned into five months later.

For at least five weeks, Windell Rodgers said he didnt know he was even in the world.

He missed the Super Bowl and President Joe Bidens inauguration. Some of his friends died one from COVID and others from natural causes.

It just broke my heart, he said. Ittook me a minute to get my mind wrapped around what did happen and why my body was like it was, because this thing wiped me out.

Patricia Rodgers, whose later bout with COVID-19 led to a dry cough and quarantine, said the first thing that came to her mind when she learned of her husbands diagnosis was Lord have mercy.

The weight of the diagnosis and what followedcaused her to shut down.

It was hard to even talk about, she said, even to those who'd called to check on her and those wanting an update on his condition. When she tried to release words, tears would flow instead.

It was not a personal thing against anybody. It was me. I didnt know how to handle it," she said.

I was fearful because first of all because he was sick and hes never been sick. Hes a strong, strong, healthy man so that threw me for a loop. I was like How could this happen?, she said.

On January 7, the medical teamtold Patricia Rodgers things were not looking good for her husband.

Pat talked to me and somewhat encouraged me to be placed on a ventilator, Windell Rodgers said. They said that would be my best hope.

He was taken to North Greenville Hospital, where he was also put on dialysis.

Meanwhile, prayers were being sent by Greater Mount Calvaryparishioners, family, friends, and people in the Greenville area.

I got people praying for me from everywhere, Windell Rodgers said. Weve done a lot of mission work and there are people from Kenya, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras and those type places and certainly locals to include the continental United States. I have been blown away with their encouragement.

Patricia Rodgers prayed in the hospital parking lot and inside the hospital lobby when she wasn't allowed to enter in to see her husband.

I knew he knew I was there," she said. "I knew he knew I was praying.

Sometimes, thehospital would let her Facetime him.

I would talk to him. I would pray. I would sing, I would read scripture because I knew he could hear me, she said.

Windell Rodgers was sent to Baptist Easley, where a trach tube was inserted to help him breathe and eventually returnedback to North Greenville Hospital.A nurse there phoned to tell PatriciaRodgers that Windell Rodgershad opened his eyes.

I screamed, I ran through this house praying, Patricia Rodgers said. I was so happy.Theyd told me he wasnt going to wake up. Id said, he will. I believe he will. Praise God for that.

After testing COVID free, Windell Rodgers was sent to Greenville Memorial and then toa rehabilitation facility in Anderson before deciding to rehab at home.

He said his wife has been outstanding and he has no want for anything. Windell Rodgers also said hes grateful to have children he can call on if he needs them.

But, he's adjusting to a life he didn't have before COVID.

The 66-year-old is 30 pounds lighter, which he doesn't mind.

He has use of a walker, wheelchair and a cane when he needs them.

While he didn'thave a stroke, he did suffer stroke-like symptoms leaving him unable to use his left wrist.

Hes on dialysis three days a week because the virus has pushed his pre-existing kidney disease over the edge.

Windell Rodgers, wholl celebrate 49 years of marriage to his wife in September, is simply grateful to be alive. He admitshe gave a lot of the doctors and nursesa hard time.

I was in a situation where I couldnt do anything for myself, he said. Here I am now, my body is not 100 (percent) but Im in my right mind. I owe most importantly God, but I owe people something to be the best person that I can be, to set an example and hope theyll listen."

One example he hopes others will follow is getting the COVID-19 vaccination. He and his wife have had their vaccinations.

Youve nothing to lose by getting the vaccine and you may very well help a whole lot of others, WindellRodgers said. Get the vaccine. I cant emphasize that enough because you dont want COVID. You just dont.

Patricia Rodgerscalls her husband "amiracle." She, too, is pleading with others to get the vaccine.

COVID is quite real, she said. He was deathly ill. Please get the vaccination. Trust God and be an advocate for your family members.

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After near-death experience with COVID, Greenville pastor puts emphasis on vaccinations - Greenville News