The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
GIFT OF PLASMA
Virus survivor meets plasma donor he says saved his life
NEW CANAAN — Two men who never met before shared a champagne toast over the weekend that three months ago seemed impossible.
Henry Woerz, 76, who survived three weeks on a ventilator suffering from COVID-19, credits his survival to Matthew Fry, a Rowayton man who won his own fight with the coronavirus.
After recovering, Fry, 50, donated the plasma that Woerz believes saved his life.
On Sunday, they met for the first time.
“It feels great. Are you kidding me? You don’t usually meet somebody who ...,” Woerz responded when asked how it felt to meet the life-saving donor, his voice tailing off.
Woerz was the first COVID-19 patient to receive plasma as part of a clinical trial at Stamford Hospital. At the time, he was on a ventilator and his sons were asked if they wanted to say goodbye.
Sitting on the deck at his son’s New Canaan home, Woerz said Sunday he feels better, but continues to work to improve his stamina.
“I lost 30 pounds,” he said. “I’ve gained back 15, I don’t want to gain any more.”
Woerz admitted he wanted to lose weight, “but I wouldn’t recommend it,” he said of his experience.
He began breathing on his own and woke shortly after receiving plasma from Fry, who was the first Norwalk resident to test positive for the coronavirus.
It was early March when Fry went out with eight other people to a local restaurant. About a week later, all nine of them tested positive for COVID-19.
Woerz is still not sure how he became infected, but he and his sons suspect it was a trip to a New York casino, and a stop for gas in New Rochelle around the time that city became a hot spot for the coronavirus.
Fry didn’t need to be hospitalized and said his sense of taste has returned. But his teenage son who also contracted the illness still struggles with the taste of meat. Woerz said his taste and smell were never affected, showing the different effects the virus has on its victims.
While Woerz was in the hospital, his three sons searched for a plasma donor while they tried whatever treatment they could as their father’s condition worsened. A mutual friend connected them with Fry, who gave his plasma and the antibodies it contained to Woerz. Fry said he has since made a second donation that was used to treat a patient in Norwalk.
After receiving the plasma, Woerz was moved into rehabilitation at Stamford Hospital. Then came another scare, when a nasal swab test found the coronavirus, and he was moved back to the COVID unit. Two other tests came back negative, and Woerz said his doctor believes the first swab picked up residual cells.
After 60 days in the hospital, Woerz was wheeled out last month to the song, “Here Comes the Sun,” and staff lined the halls and applauded.
Like Fry, Woerz wants to help others suffering with the coronavirus, but is unable to donate plasma because of medications he takes that are unrelated to COVID.
Woerz has continued his rehab while staying at one of his son’s homes in New Canaan. The process has included playing video games to work on his handeye coordination. On Tuesday, Woerz will finally return to his own home.
On Sunday, Woerz and his sons discussed his journey, as he continues to learn details of what happened during his time in the hospital.
He’s begun meeting with friends again, and his son Jason Woerz said gatherings such as the one Sunday will become weekly events now that his father is home.
“Awesome,” Fry said, as he and Henry Woerz toasted.
“Ching, ching,” Woerz replied.