Alan Baxter. a 30-year veteran of the Barton County Road Bridge Department, is thankful to be a COVID-19 survivor, and is thankful for his county “family” and its support during his ordeal.

“I know this is long overdue, but I felt from my heart that I needed to express my deepest gratitude and sincere thank you to the county,” he said, addressing commissioners Monday morning. “I just want to say thank you to whoever got me through this.”

He praised his co-workers, the names of some he did not know, for helping him through his illness and months of recovery.

A long journey

On Oct. 31 2020, he became ill with COVID. “At that time, I struggled breathing.”

On Nov. 3, he was admitted to the hospital in Great Bend where he stayed for a week when doctors decided that they could not give him enough oxygen. “I was then sedated, intubated, put on a ventilator and an life-watched to Topeka’s Stormont Vail.”

He was intubated on a ventilator for 10 days there before having a tracheotomy along with the ventilator. This lasted through Dec. 15.

“During that time, I went through a rollercoaster ride, a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “My lungs were 80% to 90% damaged, my kidneys were failing, so they started dialysis.”

And then on Dec. 4, he was getting better and they were prepping to transfer him to the Kansas City Select Specialty Hospital (a recovery facility). “I then coded for seven minutes before they got me back.” 

He remained in Topeka for another week or so before going to Kansas City as he started improving.

He was in KC until Dec. 23 before being transferred to Overland Park Regional Medical Center for rehabilitation. He was finally released to come home on Jan. 2.

He did outpatient rehab here for the next five-plus months to regain all his leg and shoulder muscle mass he lost being laid out for almost two months. He finally graduated from physical therapy on June 7. 

One big family

“This was a life changing experience for me,” Baxter said. “I know a lot of other people have gone through things and this COVID stuff, and I have a heavy heart for people who did not make it.”

But, “the reason why I’m here today is because the grace of God saved me,” he said. And, “I’m so thankful for the people here at the county.

He listed County Works Director Darren Williams, Finance Officer Matt Patzner and County Administrator Phil Hathcock, as well as all his co-workers. But, he said “there are other people that I don’t even know who worked with me to maintain my position here.”

He was also grateful for the county employees who donated their shared leave to him. “There were a lot of people I don’t even know to get me through. I don’t know who helped me, but I’m still overwhelmed even still today with gratitude.”

His daughter “was a big rock” and keep people at the county informed. “She’s the one who kept things going. 

“We appreciate your service,” commission Chairman Jim Daily, District 4, said. “The one thing that I noticed about the employees here is that they are extremely willing to help each other.” 

He said the county is fortunate to have such a program in place where leave can be shared. “That’s one benefit here that the county allows that really works out well.” 

District 5 Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said she’d followed Baxter’s journey on Facebook through his daughter’s posts. “And there were so many times that I thought there’s just no way this guy’s going to pull through. So I think you are a walking miracle.”

Not only  because he survived, but survived and was able to continue working for the county, “which was is just like the cherry on top,” Schartz said. “So I’m glad to see you here.”

“One thing that is really nice about Barton County is that it’s a family,” District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld said.