Ten to Life: Delirium Tales of a Covid-19 Survivor (Unabridged‪)‬

A Covid-19 journey into the abyss, a recollecting of delirium, hallucinations from the far reaches of our minds created from what we consciously and subconsciously record of our five senses. Forty days were spent in four hospitals, from Syracuse, New York to Sayre, Pennsylvania. The author spent 18 days intubated, sedated in an induced coma. At 61-years-old, no significant health issues (although overweight,) a passionate outdoorsman, prior years as a runner/triathlete, suddenly found himself in the fight for his life. He was given a 10 percent chance of surviving it. He nearly succumbed to it.

In his latest book, the author strives to convey what is nearly impossible to adequately describe as to how much Covid delirium magnifies our most primitive basal emotions. It is nearly paralyzing when fear, anger, regret, sense of loss enters the hallucination.

"It is the recollecting of this journey during my induced coma that is most difficult, and emotionally painful.... To those I hope to reach, to the families that are mired in anguish as their loved ones suffer; I hope that my testimony and recollection of my experience provides some measure of hope, some comfort as we extend ourselves in solidarity. It is a bare and honest account of my Covid delirium. My perceived lifetimes jumped back and forth, yet I felt no disconnect. All of my senses were in play, and at no time while sedated did I question all that I experienced to be anything but real. Everything was in place no matter how fantastic or bizarre it may have appeared.... I will long remember the kindness, the prayers, and the critical medical/spiritual support during my darkest hours. It is my firm belief I was brought back from the edge, given a second chance to do, to complete whatever I am meant to do in this life. I can promise without reservation I’ll make good on it.” (Mike Joyner)