Coronavirus survivor Raymond Esteban of Sallisaw said he wants to bring hope to people who may be living in fear of the COVID-19 pandemic since the 63-year-old “bivocational” pastor, husband, father and grandfather, received a clean bill of health this past week and returned to his job.
Coronavirus survivor Raymond Esteban of Sallisaw said he wants to bring hope to people who may be living in fear of the COVID-19 pandemic since the 63-year-old “bivocational” pastor, husband, father and grandfather, received a clean bill of health this past week and returned to his job.
“I feel good today,” Esteban, 63, said. “It’s good to be back at work. I’m very thankful for all the prayers and support I received from my family, friends and the people, not only in Sequoyah County, but some from as far as New Hampshire and beyond,” Esteban said.
Esteban tested positive for Coronavirus COVID-19 on March 24 at a local health facility after complaining of fever and chills the day before.
“I was administered a test for influenza on Monday and it came back negative. Then I was given a test for the COVID-19 and it came back not even 48 hours later as positive,” he said. “That was an awful test. They stuck the swab all the way up to my nasal cavity. It almost made me cry. They waited 20 minutes then I had to do it again,” he said.
After the test was proven positive, Esteban said he was advised to go home and self quarantine. He was also advised to take Tylenol for the pain and another form of medication for the fever and drink plenty of fluids.
As the night wore on, Esteban began to feel worse with fever and chills becoming unbearable at times and causing his mind to wander, he said.
“I’m a man and I guess we can be babies sometimes but there were times when I was shaking so bad. I had four solid days of running a fever, having chills and coughing,” he said. “On Wednesday morning around 2 a.m., I believe I had reached the peak of my illness because my fever broke and I began sweating. My temperature came down and the fever and chills began tapering off and I began to feel better.”
Esteban said he had actually began feeling bad on the Friday before he went to the doctor’s office.
“I went through the weekend feeling bad but I thought I would wait until Monday to go to the clinic,” he said. Esteban said he also had gone a week before then for a cold.
“All together I was feeling ill off and on for two weeks before I tested positive,” he said. “My wife did not get the virus. I’m just so thankful for that and I thank God for her. She’s a pretty good cook.”
“I know God has blessed me with a family who loves me. We have three children, two boys and a girl and five grandchildren. All they could do was call me and let me know they were thinking of me and that they loved me. I know people were praying for me throughout this sickness. I was not afraid. I believed that God was going to heal me but I also accepted the fact that if I did not come out of the illness, I knew where I would be. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and I put all my faith and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said.
“I think these days, people are searching for answers but I have faith God knows what He’s doing. God gave me strength to endure this illness and I remained positive through the whole thing,” he said.
Esteban said he had people who called him from his home state of California and other states to let him know they were also thinking of him and praying for him.
“I believe that’s what will get us through this difficult time is to be there for one another and exalt one another and remain positive,” he said. “Maintain that positivity no matter what.”
On March 30, Esteban said he received a clean bill of health and was allowed to go back to work.
“I asked if I would have to be retested but they told me no,” he said.
“I also asked if the virus is something I can get again and I was told ‘We don’t think you’ll get it again, You shouldn’t get it again, We hope you don’t get it again,’” he said.
“Not much is still known about this virus but the last thing I’ve heard is that people who get it are not prone to getting it again and maybe if you get it once, you should never get it again. That’s what I’ve heard and I stand on that belief,” he said.
“I think another thing that has kept my spirits up is the sun. Oh I loved those days when the sun came out. It’s like no matter what, it was going to be a good day.
“I’m a bi-vocational minister, meaning I not only pastor a church but I also work at a full time job. Today, the sun is shining and it feels so good to walk in the sunshine.
“I feel like I’ve been to battle for the Lord and I’ve returned.”
