LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Nicholasville man has been discharged from Baptist Health Lexington after being on a ventilator with COVID-19.

Gary Mazza, 73, was on a ventilator for seven days and in the hospital for two weeks before being released on April 13th.

He tested positive for COVID-19 on March 25th, days later his fever spiked to 103.7 while he was resting at home.

“The symptoms were really quite dramatic,” Mazza told Baptist Health. “There were a lot of night shakes. I was shaking so much that I would sweat and shake at the same time. I had no idea what anybody was saying around me.”

Mazza's condition took a turn for the worse once he was admitted to the hospital. Mazza's wife Cindy says she got a call in the middle of the night letting her know that Gary was being placed on a ventilator, which is considered life support.

"I don't even know how to say it, you know the seriousness of it, but that's really like a gut punch. And then he said we'll let you speak to home for a few moments before we put him on, but I mean literally maybe 30 seconds we were able to pray together and talk and then the doctor took the phone and said 'We're going to ventilate him now someone will call you.' And that was that. So it was very scary," said Cindy Mazza.

“My prayer before I went under was that I have more work to do on this side of the river than the other, so if it be Your will, keep me here. If not, I’ll move on," said Gary Mazza.

Thankfully, Mazza was able to pull through.

Mazza said he doesn't know how he contracted COVID-19, but stresses the importance of social distancing.

The Mazzas also want to thank the incredible team at Baptist Health Lexington. They say he wouldn't be here without the doctors, nurses and other medical staff who worked around the clock to help him battle the virus.