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Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Photographer,photojournalist

Second life

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Muscle atrophy, common for all ...ial in Richie’s care.

1 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Muscle atrophy, common for all patients placed in an induced coma, began within the first few days therefore physical therapy treatments became crucial in Richie’s care.

During his two months of being ...ions, an unusually high number.

2 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

During his two months of being in a coma Richie received a total of 14 blood transfusions, an unusually high number.

His doctors and nurses fought a constant battle to save his life.

3 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

His doctors and nurses fought a constant battle to save his life.

Richie with his nurses during a... highest death rate per capita.

4 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Richie with his nurses during a shift change, in the Intensive Care Unit, on May 3. 2021. The four waves of COVID-19 so far have claimed more than 40,000 lives in Hungary, making it one of the top countries with the highest death rate per capita.

Richie’s parents, inc...omptu inside an operating room.

5 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Richie’s parents, including his father, Gyula, was given a special permit from the hospital’s CEO to visit their son daily in the temporary intensive care unit which was set up impromptu inside an operating room.

Initially, Richie had difficult...his nurses placed near his bed.

6 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Initially, Richie had difficulty separating his dreams from reality after he woke from his coma; his only connection to reality was a clock his nurses placed near his bed.

In March, when he first began t... hospital bed two months later.

7 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

In March, when he first began to experience symptoms, he did not think there was reason to be concerned. He went to bed at his parents’ house, and woke up in a hospital bed two months later.

The staff at the hospital&r...onstant, around-the-clock care.

8 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

The staff at the hospital’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit united as one and fought to save Richie’s life, providing him with constant, around-the-clock care.

Richie was able to get some fre...table oxygen tank, May 5, 2021.

9 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Richie was able to get some fresh air after 54 long days, with the help of using a wheelchair and a portable oxygen tank, May 5, 2021.

His hospital room window was hi...n to the world for a long time.

10 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

His hospital room window was his only connection to the world for a long time.

He survived a severe case of th...’s recovery was slow.

11 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

He survived a severe case of the coronavirus after nearly 50 days on a ventilator, and the 30-year-old Richie’s recovery was slow.

The regular visitations and car... extremely important to Richie.

12 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

The regular visitations and care from his parents were extremely important to Richie.

During the first wave of the co...pitalized with the coronavirus.

13 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

During the first wave of the coronavirus Richie understood the severity of the pandemic, however, he was not afraid it. As a young man in excellent health, he felt he would not be at risk of being hospitalized with the coronavirus.

Richie felt the warmth of the s...contracting the virus in March.

14 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Richie felt the warmth of the sun for the first time in May since contracting the virus in March.

Richie needed his patience the ...OVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit.

15 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Richie needed his patience the most during the 54 days he spent recovering slowly in the COVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit.

With the hope of accelerating h... one of his doctor specialists.

16 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

With the hope of accelerating his recovery, Richie was being treated with the Bowen-method by one of his doctor specialists.

Before he contracted the virus ...physical condition as a result.

17 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Before he contracted the virus he worked as an armed security guard within the police force. He trained three times a week, and he was in absolutely perfect physical condition as a result.

He was eventually discharged fr...onths, beating the coronavirus.

18 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

He was eventually discharged from hospital in July after four months, beating the coronavirus.

Richie celebrated his 31st birt...to return to living life fully.

19 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Richie celebrated his 31st birthday with his friends on November 28, 2021. Richie is incredibly fortunate to have made such a remarkable recovery after his ordeal in intensive care, and hopefully he can soon begin to return to living life fully.

Richie in his home, December 29...mp;rsquo;s remarkable recovery.

20 of 20 © 2024 Simon Moricz-Sabjan

Richie in his home, December 29, 2021. He received Christmas Greetings from the hospital staff, who still talk about Richie’s remarkable recovery.

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Thumbnail of Muscle atrophy, common for all p_cial in Richie’s care.

Thumbnail of During his two months of being i_sions, an unusually high number.

Thumbnail of His doctors and nurses fought a constant battle to save his life.

Thumbnail of Richie with his nurses during a _e highest death rate per capita.

Thumbnail of Richie’s parents, incl_romptu inside an operating room.

Thumbnail of Initially, Richie had difficulty_ his nurses placed near his bed.

Thumbnail of In March, when he first began to_a hospital bed two months later.

Thumbnail of The staff at the hospital&rs_constant, around-the-clock care.

Thumbnail of Richie was able to get some fres_rtable oxygen tank, May 5, 2021.

Thumbnail of His hospital room window was his_on to the world for a long time.

Thumbnail of He survived a severe case of the_e’s recovery was slow.

Thumbnail of The regular visitations and care_e extremely important to Richie.

Thumbnail of During the first wave of the cor_spitalized with the coronavirus.

Thumbnail of Richie felt the warmth of the su_ contracting the virus in March.

Thumbnail of Richie needed his patience the m_COVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit.

Thumbnail of With the hope of accelerating hi_y one of his doctor specialists.

Thumbnail of Before he contracted the virus h_ physical condition as a result.

Thumbnail of He was eventually discharged fro_months, beating the coronavirus.

Thumbnail of Richie celebrated his 31st birth_ to return to living life fully.

Thumbnail of Richie in his home, December 29,_amp;rsquo;s remarkable recovery.

Public Project

Second life

Copyright Simon Moricz-Sabjan 2024

Date of Work Apr 2022 - Dec 2021

Updated Apr 2022

Location Budapest

Topics Adoption, Documentary, Health/Healing, Journalism, Photography

Summary

Thirty-year-old Richard Meszaros, Richie, was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the third wave of the coronavirus in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary.

Richie spent 59 days in intensive care connected to life support nearly the entire time, followed by his transfer to the COVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit for a total of 113 days.

Thirty-year-old Richard Meszaros, Richie, was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the third wave of the coronavirus in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. In March 2021 he was transported from his home by ambulance to the Emergency Department of Uzsoki Street Hospital where he was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to his rapidly deteriorating condition. Richie spent 59 days in intensive care connected to life support nearly the entire time, followed by his transfer to the COVID-19 Internal Medicine Unit for a total of 113 days. He received a hero’s sendoff from the hospital after the entire staff became united behind him in their life-saving efforts. Richie was young and healthy without any pre-existing medical conditions, nevertheless his chance of survival remained questionable for a very long time. He received a total of 14 blood transfusions, his kidneys failed several times, and the coronavirus damaged nearly all of his organs. By the time he was discharged from the hospital in July, Richie lost close to 25 kilograms, or 55 pounds. He has grown stronger every week since then, and so far has not shown any signs of long COVID-19 symptoms. It seemed unlikely he would be able to celebrate his 31st birthday in November with his family and friends, so his remarkable recovery gave him and his community, along with the entire medical team of at Uzsoki Street Hospital, a renewed sense of hope, especially after having to witness the devastatingly crushing loss of close to 90% of their patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.

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