Bob and Jeri Bartz, who attend Grace Fellowship Church, a Charis Fellowship congregation in Waterloo, Iowa (Kyle Dwyer, senior pastor), were recently interviewed on KWWL, Channel 7, Waterloo, about their experience battling COVID-19. A portion of the story appears below. Click here to read the complete article or view the television broadcast.

“There’s always hope for miracles”: Waterloo couple, daughters reflect on COVID-19 battle

Bob and Jeri Bartz

When it comes to COVID-19, Bob and Jeri Bartz checked all the wrong boxes.

“We were fully aware that you know it could go the opposite way in so many cases have,” the couple’s daughter Tracey said.

Bob was fully aware of the virus but said he thought it was nothing and would disappear as soon as the election ended.

It didn’t, and days after the election, both Bob and Jeri tested positive for COVID-19. They were admitted to the hospital days apart.

“I almost hate to admit to anybody that heard me say that,” he said. “Then I got it, and it changed my mind. You don’t want to get it.”

It started with a trip to the emergency room at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center on November 6th. The couple’s granddaughter drove them. Bob was admitted, and Jeri followed two days later.

“I thought I was fine, and then they said I had COVID, so I needed to stay,” Jeri said. “Next thing I knew, I was put on a ventilator, and I didn’t even realize that I was having trouble breathing.”

Jeri doesn’t remember much from when she was on a ventilator in the ICU because she was sedated. After about a week, she’d had enough.

“Evidently, I got tired subconsciously, and I just ripped it out,” she said. “The nurses weren’t thrilled with me.”

For daughters Trisha and Traci, it was an unnerving and, at times, frustrating wait for any information on how their parents were doing.

Click here to read the complete article or view the television broadcast.