COVID-19: Marcus Gaiters is battling back
Doctors thought this 10-year-old might die but has shown improvement
COLUMBUS — Marcus Gaiters is starting to show signs of improvement in his battle against COVID-19, a month after arriving at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
He still has a long way to go before he can come home to Zanesville.
“I look at my son, he is my strength,” Alison Gaiters said. “He is fighting through this. Last week the doctors said he might die, this week his numbers were getting better. Seeing him in that bed keeps me going, because he is alive,” she said. “You can’t break down, you have to be strong for your child.”
Marcus’ battle began on Aug. 23, his 10th birthday. Concerned about his high fever, his mother took him to the doctor the following morning, where he was tested for COVID-19.
What followed was a whirlwind.
Marcus Gaiters has been battling COVID symptoms for a month
They waited 12 hours to be seen at Children’s Hospital, returned home and went to Genesis Hospital, which transferred him back to Children’s on Aug. 26. He has been there ever since.
On the morning of the 26th when Marcus woke up at home, his mother could see he was still declining. “He couldn’t move, couldn’t breath. We rushed him up to Genesis.” she said. “They gave him some oxygen and transported him by ambulance to Children’s.”
Marcus was intubated as soon as he arrived at Children’s Hospital. The last words his mother heard were “Mommy, I love you.”
During the first three weeks, Alison slept by Marcus’ hospital bed. Her husband, Robbie, who was at home in Zanesville caring for Marcus’ 12-yearold sister Grace, traveled to Columbus on the weekends and the couple checked into a hotel. Once Marcus tested
negative for COVID, Alison was able to move into the Ronald Mcdonald House.
Along with the fear that comes from having a child in the hospital, the family is facing a devastating economic impact. Alison is on a leave of absence from her job, and Robbie was unable to return to work until Marcus tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday, after
battling COVID for nearly a month. The couple is considering a to move to Columbus to be closer to Marcus, who facing several more months in the hospital. Family friend Seth Martin started a Gofundme account. It can be found by searching #marcusstrong on the Gofundme website.
“This is the worst case of COVID-19 the doctors say they have seen,” Alison said. Marcus’ asthma has no doubt made it worse, she said.
Marcus has been in a coma for the last several days, after doctors put him on paralytics so his lungs can heal. He is also fighting a fever, caused by an infection where the central line enters his neck.
There is usually a family member visiting Marcus, as Alison said they can come visit at any time.
“The doctor’s say he can hear me,” Alison said. “They said whenever I talked to him his blood pressure goes up.” During the week, she holds a phone up to the bed so he can Facetime with his dad, and his dogs.
The Gaiters family have been helped by support from the Zanesville community
Marcus was a happy-go-lucky kid before COVID-19 struck, his mother said. “Everybody loves Marcus. He’s a wonderful kid, a straight A student, a good friend. It’s heartbreaking.”
Community support has helped Alison keep going, as has her faith. Hundreds of people have reached out with messages of support, she said.
“All the prayers in the community have been really helping,” she said. “The school (John Mcintire Elementary School) has been really supportive.”
Alison said she knows her son will be a walking testament to the dangers of COVID-19 some day, and the importance of wearing masks. To those that doubt the dangers of the disease, she says “Look at my son, look at the condition he is in.”
“It is frustrating,” she said, of the misinformation surrounding COVID that she sees on social media. “Wake up, just wake up. Go on my Facebook page and look at pictures of my son.” Alison said she is particularly bothered by the lack of masks in schools.
Alison, Robbie and Grace are all vaccinated, but Marcus was simply to young. “That’s what’s so sad, he is just an innocent victim of this evil virus,” his mother added. ccrook@gannett.com 740-868-3708
Social media: @crookphoto