Glenpool Doctor Seeing Long-Haul Symptoms 1 Year After Battle With COVID-19

A Glenpool doctor is still recovering nearly a year after COVID-19 sent him to the hospital.

Dr. Michael Ward, a family practice doctor at Utica Park Clinic, said the virus affected his neurology. He thinks that’s why his long-haul symptoms are different from others.

“No one knows what caused it, no one knows why it was neurological,” Ward said.

Nearly one year after being released from the hospital, Dr. Ward's fight with COVID-19 still lingers.

“My left leg is still slightly weaker than my right, but I walk without a limp,” Ward said.

He tested positive last March, and when it got worse, he had to be hospitalized at Hillcrest Hospital South for almost a month. That’s where he would find out that his experience was different, making full recovery harder.

“Mine had no respiratory issues, mine was all neurological, for the first twelve days in the hospital, I did nothing but hallucinate. I also had blown out my balance centers, so I had no inner ear balance,” Ward said.

Since being released from the hospital ten months ago, Dr. Ward said his balance has improved a lot and he does strength and balance exercises every day. Until he gets his strength back, he is working part-time at Utica Park Clinic in Glenpool.

He hopes that folks take every precaution they can to prevent themselves from catching the virus, so they never have to experience what he has.

“I’m vaccinated, and you certainly need to get vaccinated if we are going to flip this,” Ward said.

Ward said his goal is to get back to working full-time doing what he loves and treating patients.