Evergreen Grad Credits Drug, Care, Faith For Surviving Ebola
DENVER (CBS4) - An American missionary who graduated from Evergreen High School who survived Ebola spoke publicly about her ordeal for the first time on Wednesday.
Nancy Writebol was flown from West Africa to Atlanta for treatment several weeks ago. She's now strong enough now to talk about her survival as it was learned another American missionary now has Ebola. The new doctor who is sick volunteered to work in Liberia after learning that two of his colleagues contracted the virus.
Writebol said she's surprised she survived.
"There were many mornings I woke up and thought, 'I'm alive.' And there were many times when I thought, 'I don't think I'm going to make it anymore,' " Writebol told reporters.
Writebol and the other doctor who survived Ebola, Kent Brantly, were both brought back to the U.S. for treatment and given the experimental drug ZMapp, but the supply of that drug has run out.
Writebol credits the drug, her medical care and her faith for saving her life.
"I just want to express, first of all, my appreciation to the Lord, for his grace, for his mercy, and for his saving of my life," Writebol said.
"I'm so very thankful this beautiful woman is still with me, she is the best part of my life," Writebol's husband David Writebol said. "I told her so many times and I continue to tell her she is the most beautiful woman I know."
The third American to become infected with the Ebola virus remains in West Africa. Rick Sacra is an obstetrician who wasn't working in an Ebola ward.
"When his temperature went up he self-isolated himself. Then when the tests came back positive he personally moved himself into the Ebola unit," SIM President Bruce Johnson said.
The SIM organization says Sacra is being treated in Liberia. It's not clear if he will be returned to the U.S. for additional treatment.
The manufacturer of ZMapp says it could take months to produce more of the experimental drug.
Writebol has been spending time with her husband since her release from the hospital in Atlanta last month.
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