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Home » News » Richmond University Medical Center Provides Warm Send-Off for COVID-19 Patient

Richmond University Medical Center Provides Warm Send-Off for COVID-19 Patient

April 14, 2020

April 10, 2020 – Physicians, nurses and staff at Richmond University Medical Center gave a thunderous sendoff full of applause and cheers to Edwina Cain, a Staten Island resident who was treated and released today after testing positive for COVID-19 eight days ago.

“We have had 143 COVID-19 patients treated and discharged, 73 discharged this week alone,” RUMC president and chief executive officer, Dr. Daniel J. Messina, said. “These numbers thankfully continue to increase and we are hopeful that the curve we have all heard so much about may be starting to flatten. Edwina’s release is a testament to her will to survive and the tremendous care she received from her team of doctors, nurses and staff here at RUMC.”

Cain, 38, recently moved to Staten Island. She was transported to Richmond University Medical Center by EMS on April 3, tested positive for COVID-19and immediately placed on a ventilator. Slowly over the next few days, Cain began to fight off the virus with the help of her doctors and nurses, finally being removed from her ventilator on April 7 and breathing on her own. Today, eight days later, Cain was discharged to the care of her uncle who greeted her with tears.

Cain thanked the RUMC staff, especially the team that directly cared for her, led by Dr. Francisco Rotatori. As she left the hospital, fists raised in triumph, she repeatedly said “I’m going home,” and “you can do it…you can beat this,” a message she said for other COVID-19 patients. She gave a final dance before driving away to be cared for by family in the Bronx.

To view video of Cain’s discharge, click here.