LANCASTER, Ohio — A Lancaster woman who battled COVID-19 is using her experience to help others.
10TV first interviewed Robyn Petras, 54, in late March. Doctors diagnosed her with the virus and she needed to isolate for weeks.
After following a treatment plan, Petras recovered without any major issues despite already having cystic fibrosis and diabetes.
Since then, Petras has done several interviews and held webinars about her journey reaching folks around the world. 10TV’s Angela Reighard sat down with her to find out how she’s doing now and reflect on her experiences.
“I can honestly say my mental and physical health is better and better every day. I'm full of joy and gratitude. It's the first thing I think of when I wake up: [I’m] thankful to be alive,” Petras said.
Petras said she has found purpose in this chapter of her life. She donated convalescent plasma at the Community Blood Center in Dayton to help someone else’s immune system attack the virus.
“Finally my body that I've struggled so hard to live into...was giving a gift to sustain somebody else. To me, that was such a pure gift,” she said.
Petras said she is thankful to everyone in the medical field working tirelessly to understand COVID-19. She hopes everyone will step up to do their part in stopping the spread.
“Our society right now is so divided. My hope is that we can all find common ground and that we can learn that life is not black and white. It's not an either-or. It's a both-and. I want to keep myself both safe and I still want my freedoms, but for me, I always rule for the safety of others first,” Petras said. “I wear a mask everywhere I go because to me, wearing a mask is my way of saying I care about you and I love you.”
If you would like to learn more about convalescent plasma or to see if you are eligible to donate, click here.