14-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy Battles CCP Virus, Has Endured Coma on a Ventilator

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Fourteen-year-old Zoey Komninos was placed in an induced coma on a ventilator after contracting the CCP virus. But the teen, who also suffers from cerebral palsy, is now doing better.

Zoey was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center’s pediatric intensive care unit in New Jersey in mid-March 2020 after she experienced an elevated temperature. Her mother, 47-year-old Melanie Ollick Komninos, never left her side.

According to a report by NJ.com, Zoey’s mom, Melanie, said that a nurse who had visited her daughter at home had potentially exposed Zoey to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. The nurse had been working closely with a doctor who subsequently tested positive.

Zoey is immunocompromised as a result of suffering from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and chronic lung infections, so the news for her family was devastating. After Zoey proceeded to test positive for the virus on March 20, 2020, Melanie admitted her fear, saying, “It’s terrible to see your child like this.”

Owing to her compromised immunity, Zoey was taken out of school in 2018 and homeschooled for the sake of her health. Since then, she has received visitations from a nurse at home.

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Zoey, who cannot walk and is nonverbal—although she communicates through sounds and movement—was moved into intensive care with a fever, low oxygen saturation, and a wheezing cough. The mother recalled, “They didn’t know which way she was going, so that’s why they sedated and paralyzed her.”

Shortly thereafter, Zoey was placed on a ventilator to help her breathe. Melanie’s husband, Jimmy, 49, and the couple’s other children—Hailey, 16, and Dimitri, 12—remained in quarantine at home in New Milford, New Jersey.

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Melanie took to social media, explaining, “I have the honor of being by Zoey’s side during hospital stays. This stay is truly like no other as Jimmy and the kids cannot visit,” she added. “Only hospital staff can enter and exit. Pray for everyone’s safety so we may continue to do what we do best!”

Melanie told NJ.com that she was using her emergency time and vacation allowance from work in order to be by her daughter’s side. “And then who knows,” she added. “We have to do unemployment for Jimmy maybe. Everything was so quick; no time to think or plan.”

The family’s tight-knit New Milford community, however, came through in Zoey’s time of need. On March 22, family friend Donna Tartini set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the family as Zoey continued to battle Covid-19 in the hospital.

“People have asked me who Zoey is that we are all praying for,” Donna wrote. “Zoey is this beautiful young lady right here, daughter of our friends Melanie Ollick Komninos and Jimmy Komninos.”

“She is quarantined with her mama, resting comfortably, now on a breathing tube,” Donna added, “many different medications pumping through her small body[....].Please keep them all in your prayers.”

To date, the fund has raised over $21,000 of a $30,000 goal.

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Comments flooded in from concerned citizens, wishing Zoey and her family strength as the teen fights toward a full recovery. “I donated because I am a father,” one netizen wrote, “and I know the pain when your child is suffering. Also we as humans should help all the time and be more compassionate.”

“Every penny, every prayer counts,” wrote another. “I read Zoey’s story and instantly felt my heart break. We are praying for you Zoey.”

As of April 7, 2020, Zoey remains in hospital but is making incremental improvements. Her mother took to update on Facebook, writing, “Zoey had a better day than the last few nights. It feels like we are over the hump and currently need to manage her secretions and oxygen requirements.”

Melanie further added, “Zoey’s progress is a miracle and we are hoping things continue to move along with less side steps.”

Her family remains grateful for the medical care Zoey is receiving. Meanwhile, the community, not to mention netizens everywhere, continues to hope for a full recovery.