MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee mother battles the coronavirus for 63 days in the hospital, nearly 50 on a ventilator and finally gets to return home. Teresa Barley was diagnosed with COVID-19 along with three other members of her family. Not everyone survived. But they feel blessed that she was able to recover.
“Sixty-three days in the hospital and I feel great. They told my husband to prepare for end of life,” said Teresa. “He told them, ‘God has the final say.’ And as you can see, God said it wasn’t time for me.”
Teresa Barley entered Froedtert Hospital back in March, just days after Tom Hanks publicly announced he had the coronavirus and the NBA shut down. Her husband, Peter also got coronavirus along with his aunt and his mother. They all ended up hospitalized as well. Sadly, Peter’s mother, Gerilynn Barley, 73, did not survive.
“My mother didn’t make it. She died on April 4th,” said Peter Barley. “I begged her to go on a ventilator and she wouldn’t.”
The Barley family was separated during their battles with the coronavirus. Peter was in the VA Hospital while Teresa was at Froedtert. But Peter says he talked to his wife, every day, even if she couldn’t hear him.
“I believe what leaves the heart reaches the heart. So, was texting her every day even though I knew she was in a coma,” said Peter Barley.
Peter says twice the doctors came in a told him he consider ending treatment for his wife while she was on a ventilator. He wouldn’t even consider it.
“With God’s help and a lot of prayers we made it,” said Peter Barley.
Teresa Barley will now quarantine for two weeks even though she is COVID-19 negative. She says she will continue to wear a mask and hopes others will do the same to help stop the spread of the virus.