It began with a low-grade fever of 99 degrees and heaviness in his chest.

  When Terrell Hopkins, Locust Grove resident and pastor of Heritage Baptist Church, visited the doctor on March 25, he was asymptomatic.

  In less than a week, he experienced a rapid decline.

  “Within three to four days, I had a crazy fever of 104. That heaviness in my chest was heavier. I was coughing some. I couldn’t eat or drink, so I had severe dehydration,” said Hopkins. “By the time I got to the hospital, they said I had double pneumonia.”

  Hopkins did not imagine that he might become a coronavirus statistic and does not know how he contracted the disease. He is 52 years old and did not have any underlying conditions.

  However, on Sunday, April 5, following multiple doctor’s appointments and a coronavirus test, Hopkins found himself a temporary resident of a COVID-19 floor at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

  “I’m strong. But by the day I went to the hospital, I could hardly walk to the car,” said Hopkins. “I think I got there right in the nick of time.”

  In the beginning of his stay, Hopkins said that he was concerned that he might not pull through.

  “There were points in there at the very beginning that you just don’t know,” said Hopkins. “I’m a Christian. I’m a saved man. But you can’t help it. My thought was, I can only do one of two things- live or die,” said Hopkins.

  Hopkins was on oxygen during his time in the hospital but was not in need of a ventilator. He was placed on a five-day regimen of hydroxychloroquine and zinc and his elevated blood markers were measured in the hopes that they would decrease.

  He was one of the many at Piedmont Henry Hospital fighting for his life in a battle against COVID-19. 

  “On that floor I was in, someone told me there were 40 something other people that had COVID-19. Everybody that came in, they were doing their jobs. But I could hear some of them talk and I knew people passed away while I was there with the same thing I had.”

  However, Hopkins was mainly thinking of the health of his family and praying that they did not contract the virus from him.

  “My family was my greatest concern. In the hospital, I’m thinking, ‘Lord, thank you that it was just me,’” said Hopkins. “It’s crazy that you would thank the Lord that you got it, but if someone had to get it, I’d rather it be me than my wife and kids or my congregation.”

  During his stay, members of his congregation and family and friends gathered in the parking lot of Piedmont Henry to show their support.

  “The whole parking lot was filled,” said Hopkins. “I was leaning against the wall. They’re singing songs out there, they had a prayer for me out there. The support from my church, my wife and everybody, it was so wonderful.”

  Hopkins was in the hospital for nine days before being released on Monday, April 13.

  He returned home to quarantine and continued his recovery. He is still feeling the effects of the coronavirus and the double pneumonia, but continues to regain his strength.

  “When I got home, I could walk, but my legs trembled. I  had to walk like an old man,” said Hopkins. “I can walk a lot better now. But it’s a very slow recovery.”

  Throughout everything he has experienced, Hopkins said his faith has come out stronger.

  “I probably look at it differently because I am a preacher and I am a saved man,” said Hopkins. “But this has brought me closer to Him in a great way. There are many verses that I hung onto, but John 11:4 is such a good verse.”

  Hopkins still has a list of the many doctors, nurses and technicians that took care of him during his time in the hospitals and prays over them daily.

  “I’ve got a list of the names of every shift, every person that worked on that shift and everyone that came in my room, I told them thank you for what they’re doing,” said Hopkins. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t bow my head and that I pray for every one of them.”