A Tennessee lawmaker has changed his stance on COVID-19 after an eight-month battle with the virus.
Republican Rep. David Byrd once attended unmasked functions and voted for a resolution last year that accused the media of sensationalizing the pandemic. But now, he is urging people to get vaccinated and to take the virus seriously.
In a lengthy statement on Friday, Byrd revealed he tested positive for coronavirus the day before Thanksgiving. On December 5, he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. His health declined, and he spent 55 days on a ventilator.
“Just when it seemed like I was improving, suddenly I wasn’t. My liver began to fail. I developed jaundice and was later diagnosed with Covid Cholangiopathy. I was told I would need a liver transplant or else I would die. Again, my family prepared for the worst,” he wrote.
Byrd underwent a liver transplant on June 12, and while he admits he is improving every day, he still has a long way to go. He hopes that his story helps others take COVID-19 seriously and consider getting vaccinated.
“I have never been against taking the Covid-19 vaccine, but I understand the concerns of those who are hesitant,” he closed his statement. “To them, I would say Covid is real, and it is very dangerous. It is a disease that wants to kill us. Please take it seriously. Please consider getting vaccinated. This is an issue that should not divide us.”
