Broken Arrow Firefighter Recovering After Grueling 13 Days In ICU With COVID

A Broken Arrow firefighter said his 13 days in the ICU with COVID-19 and pneumonia were some of the hardest of his life.

Josh Whitekiller said at one point he was worried he wouldn't make it, but said through the power of prayer and support from people all over, he's home, and doing better each day.

"I would just want one positive thing to happen it was negative for so long," said Whitekiller. 

Whitekiller has been a firefighter in Broken Arrow for more than five years and was also a Coweta firefighter for several years. 

He was inspired to take on the job by his uncle, Billy Wilkinson.

“A lot of people say it's the best job in the world and it is," said Whitekiller. 

Whitekiller said late last month, he came down with a fever and tested positive for COVID-19. He started feeling better, but then things took a nosedive.

“It kept getting worse and worse and worse," said Whitekiller.

Whitekiller went to the hospital and was immediately admitted to the ICU where he spent the next 13 days with no visitors allowed. He said things were terrifying at one point, when doctors told him he should prepare for the worst.

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“It was kind of bad there for a while," Whitekiller said.

That's where community came in.

“When somebody is in dire straits, we all come together like that," said Wilkinson.

Wilkinson said once people heard Whitekiller’s story, they pulled together from all over the state and country.

Wilkinson said all that support and prayer had a direct impact on Whitekiller.

“That's about the time your nephew starts making improvements," Wilkinson said.

“Seeing strangers you don't even know reaching out, it was really cool to see," Whitekiller said.

After two weeks, Whitekiller was finally allowed to go home and hug his wife and two girls again. He said he’s 33, healthy, and warns this virus can be devastating for anybody.

Whitekiller said he still has trouble breathing and getting around but is getting better by the day, and hopes to be back at work in a month or two.