LARGO, Fla. — Shanna Thompson realized she was paralyzed from the neck down after waking up from a medically induced coma.
“I didn’t believe the nurse, she had to show me my records — I was in a coma for over a month,” Thompson said.
What You Need To Know
- Shanna Thompson is paralyzed after being placed on a ventilator for more than a month.
- She lost her apartment and car while she was in a medically-induced coma.
- She's unable to work, so she's hoping for help.
Thompson was admitted into the ICU after she reported a loss of taste and a tingling feeling in her hands and feet. Test results showed Thompson had COVID-19.
“July 24th is when I was told I woke up from my coma, but I don’t remember anything until August 7th, when I got my first room,” she said. “When I woke up I thought we were in February of 2021.”
She contracted the virus before the mask mandate was put into place in Florida but she told Spectrum Bay News 9 that she recommends everyone wear a mask when they are outside.
“It’s a very real thing; I can’t even pick up a drinking glass right now, so take it seriously," Thompson said. "If you’re not feeling well, it’s better to get checked then to just take a Tylenol."
Thompson said that when she woke from her coma, she had lost both her car and her apartment. Her focus, after being released from rehab last week is to get her life back on track.
She is set to host an event at the Niagara Tap in Largo on October 17, to help raise funds as she is not able to work.