‘It was a nightmare’: Local nurse heads home after being on ventilator for weeks

CHARLOTTE — A 23-year-old nurse who contracted COVID-19 and spent weeks on a ventilator at CMC Main is now recovering.

Alyssa Lobosco, who started her career at CaroMont Medical in Gastonia, is not sure how she got the virus a month ago.

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"It started with four straight days of vomiting, and it was a nightmare,” Lobosco said.

She remembers going into the emergency department at Atrium Health, which is the closest hospital to her home.

Her symptoms became so bad, they moved her to critical care.

"It was scary. I couldn't stop crying, but I also couldn't breathe," Lobosco said.

The staff felt a connection for the nurse who turned into a patient.

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They threw her a birthday party in her room, even though she was too sedated to know what was happening.

There were prayers and well wishes from first responders, and Lobosco said she didn't know about it until she was taken off the breathing tube.

"People I don't even know have been reaching out to me," she said.

She said that support made her recovery easier.

Lobosco said it may be a long time before she is back to work as a nurse. She must first rest.

“I like helping people,” Lobosco said. “That’s not going to change.”

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