Stephen A. Smith Says COVID-19 Vaccine Saved His Life: They Told Me, Had I Not Been Vaccinated, I Wouldn’t Be Here

Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith Says The COVID-19 Vaccine Saved His Life: They Told Me, Had I Not Been Vaccinated, I Wouldn’t Be Here

Stephen A. Smith nearly lost his battle with COVID-19.

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith returned to First Take with a recount detailing his tough bout with  COVID-19, the virus he thought would kill him. According to the host, his case was so “different” that, if it weren’t for him being vaccinated and cared for by a team of doctors, he probably wouldn’t be here.

Prior to being infected, the 28-year media veteran had low expectations for the virus. He stated:

“You’re assuming that you’ll have a fever, might have a cough, gonna have that massive headache — but you’ll get over it. In a lot of cases that was the case. In my case it was totally different.”

He described the symptoms that he ended up experiencing, which landed him in the hospital during the holidays.

“I had 103 degree fever every night. Woke up with chills and a pool of sweat. Headaches were massive. Coughing profusely. And it got to a point where right before New Year’s Eve, I was in the hospital into New Year’s Day. That’s how I brought in the New Year.”

"And they told me had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn't be here. That's how bad I was."

— ESPN's @stephenasmith details his recent, nearly fatal battle with COVID pic.twitter.com/jtkZV62RIA

— The Recount (@therecount) January 18, 2022

Smith claimed that doctors informed him that, had he not been vaccinated, there was a good chance he wouldn’t have made it out of the hospital alive.

“They told me, had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be here. That’s how bad it was. I had pneumonia in both lungs. My liver was bad. It had ravaged me to the point where even now I have monitor my volume — get to the gym every day, walk before you run. Work your way back because I’m still not 100 percent with my lungs, but I’m COVID negative. I’m on the road to recovery.”

He also credited the team of doctors who helped him reach a negative status, along with his sports comrades.

“But if it wasn’t for several doctors, I wouldn’t be here. Love and respect for what they did. Love and respect for people in the sports community and ESPN executives for checking on me every single day. Dave Roberts, Norby Williamson, Jimmy Pitaro — I can’t thank you enough.”

After working in the sports industry non-stop for more than two decades, Smith said that his COVID battle marked his longest absence. He also reiterated how thankful he was to be here, and how difficult it was to get to this point.

“I’m ecstatic to be back. I’ve missed being at work. I’ve used more sick days in the last month than I’ve used in my 28-year career in this business combined. I don’t take many sick days, but I had to do it this month just to survive. And I can’t tell you how lucky and sincerely blessed I am to be sitting here today — because two-and-a-half, three weeks ago, I didn’t know if I was gonna make it.”

Stephen A. Smith announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2021.

Do you think the vaccine significantly increased Stephen A. Smith’s chance of survival? Leave us a comment and let us know.

[VIA]