Sophie Sonnenfeld Photo.
Aondre Chapman (right) and his wife Tonya at home in Hamden.
After six long months battling Covid-19, Aondre Chapman is finally out of the hospital and back at home.
Aondre and his wife Tonya met up with the Independent Saturday to talk about the arduous path he’s taken en route to recovery.
“It’s been a journey,” Tonya said from Aondre’s bedside.
That journey began on Nov. 12.
Aondre has worked as a bus driver for 22 years, and was employed by Greater Bridgeport Transit.
“He loves his job and he took his job seriously,” Tonya said. “He was one of those who would show up an hour and a half early.”
As he was finishing up his last run of the day last November, Aondre said he felt unusually exhausted. “It took everything in me to get that bus from Derby back to Bridgeport.”
After work, Aondre happened to already have a doctor’s appointment and decided to speak with his doctor about the fatigue. When he entered the building, he said, his temperature was 97.3 degrees. By the time he walked down the hall to the office, it jumped to 102 degrees.
His doctor instructed him to go home and quarantine for 14 days.
Tonya said she monitored his temperature, which she said hovered around 102 degrees, and peaked at 103 on Nov. 19. That’s when Tonya brought her husband into the emergency room.
By Nov. 24, Aondre said he was told the damage in his lungs could be irreversible, so he agreed to be intubated. The doctors held a Zoom meeting with the family in early December to discuss a plan.
“We told them our wishes were to do anything medically possible to save Aondre if it came to that,” Tonya said.
The doctors intubated Chapman and put him in an induced coma for 13 days. He was then moved to Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) where he was placed on a ventilator for three weeks.
Before conducting a procedure, Tonya said a doctor from YNHH called her to alert her when he noticed an erroneous Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order on Aondre’s chart.
Because she was alerted, Tonya said she and Aondre’s mother were able to correct it.
“My heart goes out to every family member that ever had to deal with this. With any sickness when it comes to your loved one you have to advocate. You have to, because if not, they will take matters into their own hands.”
In addition to lung damage, Aondre said he also suffered kidney failure from his Covid-19 infection. He said he was on dialysis and got a tracheostomy as the infection raged in his right lung.
Throughout this time, Tonya stayed connected to him through Zoom calls and Facetimes where she played music, hymns, and prayers. “When people that are sick have love and know that their loved ones are there, they do better. Aondre is proof that when you stick together, when you pray, and when you advocate for your loved one, it does make a difference.”
Then in February, Aondre was transferred to Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. Tonya dropped off balloons and candy on Valentine’s Day and was finally able to visit him for the first time in person soon after.
“My emotions were so high. It was just such an awesome moment to see my husband in person finally.”
As soon as she was allowed to, Tonya visited him for two hours every day of the week, she said. “I thought about what our wedding vows said, in sickness and in health. You never know what life is going to bring you, but love does not and should not stop because an individual gets sick or because something goes wrong.”
Tonya helped Aondre wipe away tears as he reflected on the community support and love he received. “People that I didn’t even know came to see me through [Tonya] and it was overwhelming.”
Aondre said he was especially moved by an “emotional and enriching” visit with Pastor Hampton of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church when he was at YNHH. “They had a beautiful time sharing and encouraging one another,” Tonya said.
Aondre and Tonya said they got many phone calls and prayers from neighbors, from family in North Carolina and Georgia, and from members of the Pitts Chapel community, where Aondre is part of the Deacon Board.
They were also grateful for the support they received from Greater Bridgeport Transit drivers. Tonya said, “They’ve been there and they’re still there.”
On March 19, Aondre was moved to the Milford Health and Rehabilitation Center, where he was allowed visits from Tonya and his parents for 30 minutes a day, he said.
Tonya and both of Aondre’s parents who live with them in Hamden also tested positive for Covid-19 in November, Tonya said.
She said she had more mild symptoms and Aondre’s parents were hospitalized for a week. Aondre said he thinks his recovery was slower than most because he was a smoker.
One of Aondre’s coworkers passed away from Covid-19 and a few more overcame bad cases, he said. He estimated that he comes into contact with over 5,000 people in a day when he drives.
Aondre said the drivers were protected by plexiglass on the buses, but couldn’t enforce mask wearing for passengers. “All we could do was ask them, we couldn’t force them to wear masks.”
Since March, Aondre has regained mobility in his left hand. He can now feed himself and change the channel with the TV remote. Recovery in his right arm has been a slower process. From walking to talking, Tonya said, “Aondre had to learn how to do everything over again.”
Now Aondre is no longer on oxygen or dialysis. Since he was cleared, Aondre plans to start physical therapy at home.
Aondre said his transition home went well thanks to two AMR drivers named Sergio Campell and Jerido Duffy on Saturday evening. “I still didn’t believe it until I pulled up in the driveway.”
The drivers helped him off the stretcher, put him in a chair, and maneuvered him downstairs. “They were so genuine, compassionate, and considerate,” Tonya noted.
“We have a big support system and I’m so grateful that we do. We stayed on our faith and our belief in prayer to bring us through.”