Howard Breidenbach from Oregon was a skeptic of the COVID-19 vaccine until he spent a painstaking 102 days in the hospital on ventilators.
He told KGW 8 News:
"30% survival rate and I survived."
He stayed at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. For about three weeks he was barely conscious.
Breidenbach recalled:
"I thought I was dead."
"I couldn't even remember my birthday."
"Couldn't remember my name."
You can see news coverage here:
Breidenbach is now back in his home in Myrtle Creek, but he sadly lost his business.
He was planning to retire from his trucking business in about five years but during his time in the hospital they had to shut everything down.
Breidenbach said he used to have doubts about COVID before he caught it himself:
"This is a conspiracy, just a flu they're overinflating."
Now, he's sharing his story so other non-believers think twice about refusing the vaccine.
"I agree with them, they should have their choice."
"But at the same time, what freedom do you have in the grave, besides to be worm food?"
Breidenbach is back with his wife, Tonya, at home but he remains on oxygen.
During the interview with KGW 8 News, he was unable to suppress the lingering cough.
"The COVID cough never goes away."
Breidenbach's county of Douglas is only 55% vaccinated.
When asked what the response to his story has been, he said:
"The reaction I really don't care about."
"It's that they heard the message and at least did consider it."
He really wants this issue to be taken out of politics:
"Right and left, red and blue...we're still all neighbors."
His story is being spread on social media.
I'm glad he made it out and is back home. I hope his voice is being heard in Douglas County and more folks are getting vaccinated. It's for the greater benefit of everyone
— PDX | 🅲🅾︎🅻🆃🆂 | 𐂃 (@PDX_Rec_Specs) November 10, 2021
Good story to share with any anti-vaxxers you may know...
Unvaccinated Oregon man spends 102 days in hospital, now has a message for Americans https://t.co/v6lEZElMlk
— Loo Read (@ThePiker4) November 10, 2021
Some learn the easy way. Others have to learn the hard way. This man is fortunate to have lived long enough to learn, & now he urges everyone to get vaccinated. Unvaccinated Oregon man spends 102 days in hospital, now has a message for Americans https://t.co/AtcZLg3hpx
— Jeanne Mann (@Jeanne_Mann) November 10, 2021
Good for Howard telling his story and encouraging others to get vaccinated. I wish more people would listen.
Unvaccinated Oregon man spends 102 days in hospital, now has a message for Americans https://t.co/m0yAXus04x
— RobinJoy (@RobinJoyous) November 10, 2021
#God's #Grace saved this #antivaxxer. he had #access to #hospital resources for 102 days--#miracle. The #chip #theory is #nonsense cuz that's what #SmartPhones are even when powered off! Like he asks, "What freedom do you have from the #grave?"https://t.co/kSoDrDTeHT
— Calvin D Wills Jr ✊🏾🏳️🌈 🔥❤️♋️ (@calvin_wills_jr) November 10, 2021
Unvaccinated Oregon man spends 102 days in hospital, now has a message for Americans https://t.co/cuPtc7Z73K
...That a $20 single dose of a COVID-19 vax is priceless compared to 102 days in ICU. ~$250K; or a monoclonal antibody cocktail $1,250 per infusion.
— Karen J (@KaJo503) November 10, 2021
Breidenbach is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and he hopes his story encourages others to do the same.
@priscillachan/Instagram