For Ebola survivors in the United States, it's the most perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving. Appearing together for the first time after they have been declared free of the virus, 6 of the 9 survivors spoke of their gratitude in NBC's Today show on Wednesday, November 26.
The special episode featured two Dallas nurses who contracted the virus after taking care of Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian who was the first person to ever be diagnosed in the country sometime in late September. Nina Pham and Amber Vinson received their treatment in an isolation unit in Bethesda, Maryland, and Atlanta, Georgia, respectively.
Two doctors, Nancy Writebol and Kent Brantly, who were initially diagnosed of the virus in West Africa, also appeared in the show. Before they were flown to the United States, they received an experimental drug ZMapp. When they were eventually cured of the virus, these two health workers and missionaries donated their blood plasma to the other patients who took the time to thank him on the said show. Writebol, for one, provided her plasma to Dr. Craig Spencer who was diagnosed of the virus in New York's Bellevue Hospital. He wasn't part of the interview.
There was also Dr. Rick Sacra who developed the infection after working in Liberia. Although he was incredibly grateful for the second lease in life, he also stressed the reality that they had also received extensive criticisms especially in the social media. He felt that there's a stigma that usually accompanies people that have survived the virus.
Completing the 6-member group was Ashoka Mukpo, who traveled to West Africa as a freelancer cameraman for NBC.
Although they had battled a disease that definitely put their lives in great danger, they didn't regret what happened and are willing to continue to serve others.
Ebola's death toll has already gone to 5,600, according to World Health Organization (WHO). One of the latest deaths in the United States is Martin Salia, who used to work as a surgeon in Sierra Leone.