A man from Greece is recovering from the coronavirus. Both he and his wife believe mental symptoms of the virus took away his ability to move freely. 

Matt Jones says when he first woke up from his two-week COVID-19-induced coma, he had no feeling or ability to move his hands and feet.

What You Need To Know

  • Matt Jones is recovering after being in a medically-induced coma for two weeks while battling COVID-19

  • He says he had no feeling or ability to move his hands or feet after waking up 

  • Health experts at Rochester General say a stroke is now being considered a symptom of the virus

  • Dr. Chris Burke, chair of neurology at Rochester General, says doctors are learning new information about the virus every day

Now, he's grateful to know how it feels to hold his 5-month-old granddaughter.

But he is still in the process of recovering.

"My feet, I still can't feel my toes. When I first came out of a coma I was so weak," Jones said. "My right side is slow to recover. My hand and finger movements are restricted, and my right leg is weak."

He goes to physical therapy twice a week at Unity at Ridgeway. His wife, Lakeischa Jones, is there to document every step of his progress. 

Dr. Chris Burke, chair of neurology at Rochester General, says losing feeling on one side of the body is a symptom of stroke.

"One side of the body isn't working correctly. Language or speech is not working appropriately. One side of the body goes numb or tingling," Burke said.

Burke says a stroke is now being considered a symptom of the virus. Lakeischa says she thinks Matt possibly had one while he was in a coma, but his doctors aren't sure.

"He has the right side of weakness which he never had any weakness issues," Lakeischa said. "He had mild diabetes but never had any neuropathy issues. But they're also thinking that they myelin sheaths were burned off by the COVID."

Myelin sheaths are the nerves that send the message to your brain to feel.

"If you prick his finger with a pen, he won't feel it immediately," said Burke.

Burke says doctors are learning new information about the virus every day. 

"It's kind of frustrating because no one can say 'oh, this is what it is' or, 'oh we've had this before and that's what it is,’ " said Burke.

But even with the uncertainty of the future effects of this virus, Matt and Lakeischa say they're just happy he's here now.

"We could easily be talking about him instead of to him. So we're thankful for whatever we're going through," said Lakeischa.