Maddy Smith thought she had the flu.But as days went on, the Rowan University freshman knew it was something else."I didn't want to get up," she recalls. "I didn't want to eat or drink."Because Smith is only 18 and had no confirmation that she had been around someone with the coronavirus, she couldn't get tested.Not even when her headaches became unbearable, she got a cough and started vomiting, and her fever hit 102 and kept rising. Two flu tests, a test for strep and a spinal tap all came back negative. Then, her doctor decided to give the Weymouth Township teen a test March 15. Five days later, it confirmed she had COVID-19."This is the face of someone who tested positive for coronavirus," she wrote in a Facebook post March 27, with a picture from her hospital bed. "The virus is nothing like the flu. Symptoms may be similar, but the way it ravaged my body was crazy."Even weeks after being symptom-free, Smith says she's still getting her strength back."I wouldn't wish this virus on anyone," she told BreakingAC. "To think my symptoms were considered mild-moderate, and I was as sick as I was."Smith said she's glad she came home from school when she did. She quarantined for two weeks, until the county cleared her. Her family also was cleared. Only her sister showed any symptoms. But they were very mild and lasted only about three days, Smith said."It scares me with the fact that I caught it at my college from someone who most likely was asymptomatic," she said. "How many people (who) came into contact with that person were asymptomatic as well, (and then) came into contact with more people?"Now, she is hoping to donate her blood to help find a way to help others.The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers because the blood plasma of those who have recovered has antibodies that can fight the virus.After sending in a second application to them, Smith heard back."I am emailing them my positive test results and my last day of symptoms," she said. "Hopefully, after those are sent, I will get an answer on when to donate."The Atlantic County Institute of Technology graduate has always wanted a career in health care.She started out with the goal of becoming a surgeon.But after more medical classes, she saw a different route to helping people.This semester, she changed her major to law and justice with a minor in psychology."I realized that I want to help people who have been done wrong by their doctors or other healthcare workers," she said. "The best way to do this is to work my way through and eventually become a medical malpractice lawyer."
Anyone who has recovered from the coronavirus is asked to donate their blood to the American Red Cross to help study how to fight the virus.Apply HERE
Atlantic County now has a testing site at Hamilton Mall.Those who think they should be tested must first get a presciption and then make an appointment. For more information, go to www.atlantic-county.org/covid/
