Family celebrates COVID-19 loved ones return home

FOR A YOUNG COVID-19 SURVIVOR.NOW HER FAMILY ANDHER ARE SPEAKING OUT, URGING FOREVERYONE TOTAKE THE VIRUS SERIOUSLYTHANK YOU TO MY GOD JEHOVAH, MYFAMILY AND MY FRIENDS.

I MADE ITTHROUGH WITHOUT THEM.

I WOULDN'TBE HERE..

THEY KEPTME STRONG,IN A NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOODTODAY CARS FLOODED THEHOME OF 26 YEAR OLD KANDY ALCALAFOR HER WELCOME PARADEFOR BEAITNG COVID 19.ALCALA SHARES SHE'S WASHOSPITALIZED ON JULY FOURTHAFTER FEELING ILL FOR NEARLY AWEEK BUT SAYS SHE BELIEVED TOBE ANOTHER SINUS INFECTION.

SHESHARES NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS THEVIRUS..

BECAUSE SHE HAD NOT BEENTAKING THEPANDEMIC SERIOUSLY AND WASOVERALL VERY HEALTHY.SOT: KANDY ALCALA/ COVID-19SURVIVOR I WAS HAVING FEVER NONSTOP.

I COULDN'T BREATHE.

IT WASJUST I WAS JUST HAVING A HARDTIME WITH EVERYTHING.AS FAR AS GOING IN.

I DON'TREMEMBER A LOT.

I WAS IN A COMA.AND I DID HAVE A HEART ATTACKFOR ME.

SO MY HEARTBEATSTOPPED- I'M SORRY..OVER 20 CARS FULLY PACKED- LEFTGIFTS, CARDS, ANDBALLOONS TO CELEBRATE HERRECOVERY..

AS THEY ALL RECALL ATONE POINT IN TIME THEY WERETOLD SHE WOULDN'T MAKEIT.

KANDY WAS EVEN PLACED ON AVENTILATOR FOR 2 AND HALFWEEKS..

AND HER FAMILY LIKE MANYOTHERS..

WERE UNABLE TO VISITHER.

HER SISTER- WHO TOO TESTEDPOSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS..SAYS SHESTILL CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S HERETODAY.IT WAS ALSO SURREAL BECAUSE HERCHANCES WERE VERY SLIM LIKE IHAD TOLD YOU BEFORE, YOU KNOWJUST SEEN HERWALK THROUGH THE DOORS IN HERAND THE WALKER FROM HERREHABILITATIONHOSPITAL HERE IN BAKERSFIELD.

ITJUST, YOU JUST FEEL CHILLS ALLOVER YOUR BODYLIKE IS THIS EVEN REAL.AS KANDY CONTINUES THE PICK UPON LIFE WHERE SHE LEFTOFF- SHE HAS THUS MESSAGE TO THECOMMUNITY ASWE CONTINUE THROUGH THISPANDEMIC.AWARENESS BECAUSE I TOOK COVIDAS AJOKE.

NOW WHY DO YOU KNOW WHEREMY MESS.

OH AND I WAS LIKE OHTHIS IS FAKE, YOU KNOW, AND IT'SREALLY NOT.

SO I REALLYENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BEWEARING THEIR MASKS, WASH THEIRHANDS.

STAY SIX FEET DISTANCE.TAKE YOUSERIOUS BECAUSE I'M IN AWHEELCHAIR BECAUSE OF IT.LEZLA:KANDY SHARES WITH ME SHE KNOWSSHE HAS A VERY LONG ROADTO RECOVERY.

BUT SHE'S VERYGRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE THATCAME OUT TODAY.

FOR NOW ANDBAKERSFIELD LEZLA GOODENKERN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WILLHOST THE UNITED STATES