WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. -- Doctors, nurses, and therapists lined a hallway at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Wednesday and applauded as Tamashri Maharana was whelled out of the intensive care unit. She was hospitalized for a week as she battled COVID-19, four days of which was spent in the ICU. 

"You are seeing our first survivor from COVID-19 with severe disease leave the ICU successfully," Dr. Monica Bueso, a pulmonary and critical care physician, said of a video of the farewell to Maharana. "It gave me hope, as well as to the rest of my staff. It definitely helped our morale, as well, because when you lose a patient that has been fighting a lot -- not only the patient, but yourself and your staff -- it takes a toll on you."

Bueso called the time fighting COVID-19 the most challenging days of her career 

"It's very labor intensive because the virus not only attacks the lungs -- it attacks the heart, it attacks the kidneys. We're seeing also cases of it attacking the brain," she said. "We're here. We're giving it everything we've got. We're not holding back. We constantly read research coming out of China, France, Italy, follow all the latest medical journals to make sure we're up-to-date with treatment."

Maharana's case also presented a learning experience for her team.

"We've tried a different approach, and it worked with her. So, that was very encouraging. From then on, we're using that approach on the other patients, and so far, we're having success. We don't stop praying, though," Bueso said.

According to a hospital spokesperson, that approach involved high flow oxygen therapy and a series of medications that did not include hydroxychloroquine.

Bueso said she couldn't stress to the public enough the importance of social distancing.

"We're very optimistic that we can win this battle if we fight it all together. We all can be heroes at this," she said.

As for Maharana, AdventHealth said she's in quarantine at home, where she's continuing her recovery.