Jennifer and Andre Laubach, both 36, from Clarkston in Michigan, were expecting twins when Jennifer started exhibiting symptoms of the potentially deadly virus in March but attributed it to her pregnancy. Not long after, Andre felt sick shortly before his birthday.
The couple packed a bag and headed to their car to drive to Beaumont Hospital in Troy, forewarning staff that they may be carrying the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. On the journey, Andre’s symptoms worsened rapidly to the point where he was struggling to breathe.
At that moment, a call from Andre’s doctor prompted Jennifer to turn the car around; Andre’s test results were back and he had tested positive.
“When I dropped him back off at home I was worried that I might not see him again,” Jennifer who was in the driver’s seat, admitted. “I was afraid he was going to die in his sleep, and he was all by himself.”
Andre, who has asthma, knew that he was going to miss the birth of his babies. After returning home and lying down, he recalled feeling as though he was “on the brink of death.”
Andre called 911, but medics read his oxygen levels and decided that they were sufficient; Andre was not a good candidate for a hospital bed. That night, the soon-to-be father slept alone with the front door unlocked, fearing that he would be too weak to open it if his condition worsened further.
“It was the virus, me, God, and the cats,” he recalled. “When the ambulance left, I had so much to live for at that point.”
On April 3, Jennifer gave birth to Mitchell and Maksim in isolation in the hospital, pending the results of her own test. The newborns weighed just 3 pounds (approx. 1 kg) and 4 pounds (approx. 2 kg) respectively.
Jennifer didn’t get to hold her babies, who, as vulnerable preemies, were whisked away to the NICU to avoid potential contamination with the virus. The new mom texted pictures of the baby boys to Andre at home. The new father said it gave him yet another reason to fight.
Jennifer’s CCP virus test came back positive just days later. She and Andre—steadily improving—recovered at home.
They kept in touch with their baby boys with the nurses’ help via video chat, and both the babies had tested negative.
On April 25, baby Mitchell was allowed to go home with his parents for the first time. Maksim, still battling with some lung issues, was kept behind in the NICU for further monitoring but was expected to be allowed home before long.
Andre paid tribute to his wife’s immense strength in getting through their family crisis. “Jen drove a half an hour after her water broke, after thinking I was dying, diagnosed with coronavirus, and then delivered two babies with no support,” he said. “She’s tough.”
“Don’t take the moments that you have with the people you love for granted,” the new dad reflected. “You just gotta cherish every day that you have.”
