Dr. Kent Brantly Speaking At A Press Conference
After Being Discharged From Hospital
Below is the full text and video of the remark by Dr. Kent Brantly at a Press Conference to announce his release from Emory University Hospital,
Atlanta. Dr. Brantly and Nancy Writebol had been infected with the
Ebola virus while working as medical missionaries in
Liberia. They were flown to Emory where they were treated with the new
experimental drug ZMapp. Mrs. Writebol had earlier been discharged having also fully recovered. First to speak in the video is Dr. Bruce Ribner, Medical Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit of Emory University Hospital...
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'Today is a miraculous day. I am thrilled to be alive, to be well
and to be reunited with my family. As a medical missionary, I never imagined
myself in this position. When my family and I moved to Liberia last
October to begin a two-year term working with Samaritan's Purse, Ebola was not
on the radar. We moved to Liberia
because God called us to serve the people of Liberia .
'In March, when we got word that Ebola was in Guinea and had spread to Liberia , we
began preparing for the worst. We didn't receive our first Ebola patient until
June, but when she arrived, we were ready. During the course of June and July,
the number of Ebola patients increased steadily, and our amazing crew at ELWA Hospital
took care of each patient with great care and compassion. We also took every
precaution to protect ourselves from this dreaded disease by following MSF and
WHO guidelines for safety.
VIDEO
Bruce Ribner, Medical Director Of The Infectious Disease Unit
Of Emory University, Atlanta, And Dr. Kent Brantly Speak At A Press
Of Emory University, Atlanta, And Dr. Kent Brantly Speak At A Press
Conference After Dr. Brantly Was Released From Hospital Following
His Recovery From Ebola Disease
His Recovery From Ebola Disease
'After taking Amber and our children to the airport to
return to the States on Sunday morning, July 20, I poured myself into my work
even more than before - transferring patients to our new, bigger isolation
unit; training and orienting new staff; and working with our Human Resources
officer to fill our staffing needs. Three days later, on Wednesday, July 23, I
woke up feeling under the weather, and then my life took an unexpected turn as
I was diagnosed with Ebola Virus Disease. As I lay in my bed in Liberia for the
following nine days, getting sicker and weaker each day, I prayed that God
would help me to be faithful even in my illness, and I prayed that in my life
or in my death, He would be glorified.
'I did not know then, but I have learned since, that there
were thousands, maybe even millions of people around the world praying for me
throughout that week, and even still today. And I have heard story after story
of how this situation has impacted the lives of individuals around the globe -
both among my friends and family, and also among complete strangers. I cannot
thank you enough for your prayers and your support. But what I can tell you is
that I serve a faithful God who answers prayers.
Dr. Brantly Greets The Emory Medical Team
(Isolation Centre) After His Discharge From Hospital
'Through the care of the Samaritan's Purse and SIM
missionary team in Liberia, the use of an experimental drug, and the expertise
and resources of the health care team at Emory University Hospital, God saved
my life - a direct answer to thousands and thousands of prayers.
'I am incredibly thankful to all of those who were involved
in my care, from the first day of my illness all the way up to today - the day
of my release from Emory. If I tried to thank everyone, I would undoubtedly
forget many. But I would be remiss if I did not say thank you to a few. I want
to thank Samaritan's Purse, who has taken care of me and my family as though we
were their own family. Thank you to the Samaritan's Purse and SIM Liberia
community. You cared for me and ministered to me during the most difficult
experience of my life, and you did so with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Nancy Writebol With Husband, David. She Was Also
Treated At Emory University Hospital Of Ebola Which
She Contracted In Liberia Where She Worked As A
Medical Missionary With Kent Brantly
'Thank you to Emory
University Hospital
and especially to the medical staff in the isolation unit. You treated me with
such expertise, yet with such tenderness and compassion. For the last three
weeks you have been my friends and my family. And so many of you ministered to
me not only physically, but also spiritually, which has been an important part
of my recovery. I will never forget you and all that you have done for me.
'And thank you to my family, my friends, my church family
and to all who lifted me up in prayer, asking for my healing and recovery.
Please do not stop praying for the people of Liberia
and West Africa , and for a quick end to this
Ebola epidemic.
'My dear friend, Nancy Writebol, upon her release from the
hospital, wanted me to share her gratitude for all the prayers on her behalf.
As she walked out of her isolation room, all she could say was, 'To God be the
glory.' Nancy and David are now spending some much needed time together.
Happy Reunion: Kent Brantly And His Wife, Amber,
After His Release From Emory University Hospital
'Thank you for your support through this whole ordeal. My
family and I will now be going away for a period of time to reconnect,
decompress and continue to recover physically and emotionally. After I have
recovered a little more and regained some of my strength, we will look forward
to sharing more of our story; but for now, we need some time together after
more than a month apart. We appreciate having the opportunity to spend some
time in private before talking to some of you who have expressed an interest in
hearing more of our journey. Thank you for granting us that.
'Again, before we slip out, I want to express my deep and
sincere gratitude to Samaritan's Purse, SIM, Emory and all of the people
involved in my treatment and care. Above all, I am forever thankful to God for
sparing my life and am glad for any attention my sickness has attracted to the
plight of West Africa in the midst of this
epidemic. Please continue to pray for Liberia
and the people of West Africa , and encourage
those in positions of leadership and influence to do everything possible to
bring this Ebola outbreak to an end. Thank you.'
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