'Like Christmas': Last recovered COVID-19 patient celebrates release after 53 days at Williamson Medical Center

Isaiah Whalum, 46, of Nashville said there are some parts of his hospitalization at Williamson Medical Center that he remembers and some he doesn't as he fought COVID-19 for 53 days. 

However, he said he'd never forget the care he received from his medical team during those days. 

"One nurse would come into my room hold my hand and play music for me," Whalum said. "They took care of me like I was their family.

"I didn't realize how sick I was."

He said he was a little hazy about how long he had been in the hospital until he saw it written on a sign in the long procession line, congratulating him on his release from the hospital on Tuesday. 

Dozens of nurses and doctors lined the walkway at the main entrance of the hospital cheering and clapping as Whalum finally joined his family. 

"When I brought him in, I thought it would only be a few days before he was released, and I could see him," his wife, India Scruggs, said.

However, Scruggs and the couple's children — Isabella, 5, and Justin, 11 — wouldn't see Whalum for another 43 days due to hospital visitation and health restrictions when he was in the COVID-19 unit.

"It's like Christmas," Whalum said when he saw the light of day outside the hospital, surrounded by his family, friends and medical team.

They were cheering him on with each step he took to the family's car.

Last COVID-19 patient at Williamson Medical 

Whalum is the last confirmed COVID-19 patient, now recovered, to be released out of 36 who were hospitalized at WMC during the coronavirus pandemic. The first COVID-19 case in the state was confirmed on March 5 in Williamson County.

James Chappell, a registered nurse who served on the team caring for Whalum, called him "a fighter." 

"You are family now," Chappell said as he hugged Whalum.

Katherine Mincey, also an RN, agreed and attributed Whalum's recovery to his "determination and stubbornness to push through" and the strong support of his family. 

"He has a wonderful support system. We talked to his family every day, and we feel like they are our family, too," Mincey said.

Pulmonologist Dr. Tufik Assad said seeing Whalum leave the hospital was "an amazing feeling" because, as far as COVID-19 cases go, he was "the worst of the worst."

"It's hard to describe," Assad said.

"Isaiah was part of the first wave of cases in this pandemic. It's impacted so many, and you get invested in people's lives emotionally and there's nothing that can take away from that connection."

Scruggs, who also contracted COVID-19 but had relatively mild symptoms, hugged each nurse and doctor before she pulled off to take Whalum home.

"It's so exciting. It's been a long road traveled with a lot of tears. I'm thankful," she said. "The nurses and doctors are so amazing. They called me every day to check on my symptoms and to give me updates. They took care of us."

Whalum said the experience has been a journey.

"My family and friends and God got me through," he said. "I can't wait to get back to my life."

He also offered advice to the public: "Do what people tell you to do. It's serious."

Williamson County COVID-19 quick facts

• The Williamson County Health Department has tested 4,762 people for COVID-19 since April 18, when Gov. Bill Lee opened testing to asymptomatic residents.
• Williamson Medical Center currently has no patients with COVID-19.
• WMC tested 932 people for COVID-19, of which 82 were positive.
• WMC had 36 hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
• Six deaths due to COVID-19 occurred at WMC out of 36 hospitalizations.
• According to the Tennessee Health Department, there are 445 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Williamson County as of May 11.
• There have been 10 deaths related to COVID-19 in Williamson County.
• The first COVID-19 case in the state was confirmed on March 5 in Williamson County.

Source: Williamson Medical Center, Williamson County Health Department and Tennessee Department of Health. 

Kerri Bartlett covers issues affecting children, families, education and government in Williamson County. She can be contacted at kbartlett@gannett.com, 615-308-8324 or @keb1414 on Twitter.