Susie Hoover helps her husband Ray Hoover settle into the car as he prepares to go home from the hospital after battling COVID-19. (Photo by Candice Black)

PARKERSBURG — Honks, applause and waves immediately met Ray Hoover Friday evening when he came outside the doors of WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center where he was treated for COVID-19.

Hoover, 65, was hospitalized March 30 but after several days of being hooked up to a ventilator and a feeding tube, his progress and hard work made it possible for him to go home.

His wife, Susie, was more than happy to share their story about how this illness impacted Ray and the family and all the positive support they’ve received from loved ones and medical staff.

It all started with intense weakness.

“The weakness was the clincher with it. He just seemed like he couldn’t go from one place to another without having to sit down or lay down,” Susie said.

Susie Hoover, Ray Hoover’s wife, brought donuts to the medical staff who were helping her husband during his time at the hospital being treated for COVID-19. (Photo by Candice Black)

After making an appointment with their family doctor, Hoover realized he didn’t have the strength to get ready and go.

Susie called the office and they told her to take him to the hospital since he was experiencing so much weakness.

When they arrived at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, nurses came out right away to explain what was going on. Susie then waited in the parking lot to hear what would happen next. Hoover called her around 5 p.m. saying he was going to be admitted.

“I didn’t think he would have to stay because I didn’t know he was that sick,” Susie said. “You didn’t know what he was going through, you didn’t know what he looked like or what they had him hooked up to, you just wonder.”

After a few days in the hospital, Hoover tested positive for COVID-19 with those results coming in just a couple days later.

Several vehicles lined up to greet Ray Hoover with honks, claps and waves after he was discharged from WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center after having COVID-19. (Photo by Candice Black)

Hoover was hooked up to a ventilator for several days and after they weaned him off it, Hoover was believed to be the first COVID-19 patient at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center to be taken off a ventilator.

At that point, Susie said she and their son Justin, another household member, were notified from the Mid-Ohio Health Department saying they also needed to be tested.

Both Susie and Justin tested positive but have not shown symptoms even after their 14 day quarantine period.

During the quarantine period, Susie said she and Justin filled out a paper twice a day to track their temperatures and symptoms since they don’t have a household computer. They also received a text from the health department every day asking if they were symptomatic.

Susie said they’re unsure where they would have contracted the virus. While Justin was still working, Ray and Susie stayed away from groups of people and only went out for what they needed.

Despite the visitor restrictions, Susie said she was updated at least once daily to hear about Hoover’s progress.

“I (couldn’t) be there (but) they’ve really filled me in on what’s going on. They were great, even some of the doctors called me and told me what was going on. I thought that was kind of special too,” Susie said. “The nurses that were with him were excellent. I couldn’t have asked for better care.”

Now that Hoover is spending the rest of his recovery at home, Susie said she feels they have everything ready to accommodate him.

“He’s having some problems with walking, his muscles are still weak,” Susie said. “(He) probably will be on a walker or a cane for a while. He’ll be pretty well limited as to what he can do. It’s going to be a tough go for him for a while.”

As far as the road to recovery, the doctors haven’t put a timeframe on it, but Susie said Hoover has been working hard with medical staff to get healthy again.

“He has been working with them very hard. (They said) with his attitude, he probably will come out of this a little better than most because he wants to do it,” Susie said.

Through all of this, the Hoover family received immense support from family members, church family and friends.

Whether it be phone calls, cards or food brought to the house, Susie said Hoover has had a lot of support.

“I think it let us know that we had people behind us. There were people praying for him, it was a peace of mind knowing all those prayers for going up. It makes it easier knowing you have a church family and friends,” Susie said.

Calls for verification from the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department were not immediately returned.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.