COVID-19 has touched many lives. While most have dealt with minor symptoms, others continue to deal with the long term impact. That includes one Saratoga County woman, whose battle and recovery has lasted months.

Mary Catone has come a long way since she first arrived at Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation. 

“All righty then. One last walk in the gym,” Catone said. 

With each step, she’s getting stronger and regaining her strength. This is the result of 11 weeks of hard work.

“I’ve climbed stairs,” Catone said. “I’ve walked from here to the other end of the room.”

These are remarkable accomplishments for her, just three months after nearly dying in the hospital due to COVID-19. 

“I was so close that they even told my husband he should make arraignments for a funeral for me,” Catone said.

She tested positive in early November. Catone says she was so sick she could barely breathe. She spent several weeks in the ICU at Saratoga Hospital, but never gave up and neither did her family. 

“I never ever thought I’d be in a place like this, but I’m thankful I’ve gotten to see what it’s like and had the chance to get better and be well enough to go home,” Catone said.

Now that her battle with COVID-19 is in the rearview mirror, Catone is heading home for the first time in more than four months. She’s excited to see family and friends again, thanking them for all the prayers and support. 

A few days later at her Ballston Spa home, she is going through all the cards she has received over the last four months. But life is a bit different now. Catone depends on her wheelchair to get around. She still struggles to use her hands.

“For Valentine’s Day, they had the kids from the pediatric unit send Valentine’s Day cards to us old people,” Catone said. 

Her recovery continues with physical and occupational therapy. But Catone says she’s got her family and her faith to help her through this, just like they did over the last four months. She’s sharing her story to send a message of hope to others and to never give up. 

“It’s humbling and it just makes me realize how to start appreciating people even more than I felt like I was,” Catone said.