Photo Provided Jennifer Green Chaudhary, left, and husband Neil Chaudary enjoy a past formal event in this image she shared on Facebook. Neil is now recovering at their Connecticut home after a long battle with COVID-19. Jennifer, a Union Local graduate who grew up in Bethesda, and their children also experienced milder symptoms of the illness.

MONDAY WAS was one of the “very BEST” days of Jennifer Green Chaudhary’s life.

The Union Local graduate from Bethesda now lives in Newtown, Connecticut, where she and her family celebrated a homecoming to begin the week. Her husband, Neil, returned home after 17 days of being hospitalized and treated for COVID-19.

Jennifer said Neil may have contracted the illness while visiting a funeral home.

“He just went to pay his respect to someone who had (passed). He did all the other things right before we were asked to stay away from groups of 50.

“For those that still think that this is no big deal or no worse than the flu, if you don’t listen and don’t stay home these are the text messages you could get or be sending,” she wrote on Facebook while sharing an image of text messages she received from Neil in his hospital bed on March 25.

Those messages told her: “Going to ICU. Sorry. Oxygen won’t stabilize. (Probably) going to intubate. … Respirator. I will be under. Once my lungs recover they will take me off and wake me. … 1-2 weeks under. Love you!!!!”

Jennifer and their two children, Evan and Maya, also experienced symptoms of the novel coronavirus, but Neil’s symptoms were much more severe than theirs. After about seven days of battling the illness at home, he was hospitalized March 22. At first, health care workers told the family he would be released within two or three days, but the ordeal lasted much longer than that.

Through it all, Jennifer faithfully posted updates about Neil’s condition online. Neither she nor their children were allowed to visit him at the hospital, so she relied on a single daily call from his doctor for all of her information.

After his first night on the ventilator, she wrote: “First I just want to say that I am overwhelmed and incredibly blessed by the love and support I have been given. I know Neil Chaudhary would be also. He is a big softie like that. I can’t thank you enough and it means so much more than you know. … This is not and will not be easy, but I am not giving up.

“Night 1: He had a pretty good night all things considered. His oxygen levels and blood pressure are stable. He is getting the hydroxychloroquine (I’ve no idea how to spell that) and a zpack. I only get one update a day if he is doing well. I’m hoping for just the one a day. These next five days are so unbelievably critical.”

She described the second and third nights as “good” as well, noting: “We have hit the 72 (hour) mark, which means they start to do some small feeds. I’m praying that keeps his body strong enough to keep fighting. … The Dr. said that they have seen a significant increase (in cases) in the last 24 (hours). His calls to me will not come now until afternoon. Please pray for the staff at all hospitals, they face the unimaginable.

“My intention with posting the updates and the earlier, very intimate text messages, was to start a firestorm of prayers for Neil. I was also hoping to maybe, just maybe get through to someone and keep them home!”

After five days with breathing support, doctors began to reduce Neil’s sedation. His fever went away but then returned. Jennifer continued to thank everyone who was supporting her and her family through the crisis.

April 1 was Evan’s 14th birthday.

“This is the first time Neil Chaudhary has missed a birthday. This is going to be a difficult day for Evan, he and Neil are so close,” Jennifer observed in a post. “They carry on conversations sometimes that are well above my head and only they understand. Maya and I often just roll our eyes at them because we are pretty sure they share the same brain. He has stepped up these last few days and helped me so much. I’ve watched him just naturally step in and do some of the things here at home that Neil often does. I’m so proud of him.”

Although Neil remained on the ventilator, a nurse helped the family connect.

“The nurse let us FaceTime while we sang happy birthday to Evan. To my surprise Neil was looking at me. He got to watch and hear us sing to Evan and he even smiled when I told him not to flirt with the nurses unless he needed something,” she wrote, noting that Neil’s fever and white blood cell count had improved.

On Day 11, Jennifer announced that the ventilator had been removed. He was able to have virtual communication with the family, and he was transferred to a step-down unit.

By Day 15, Neil was in a regular hospital room, using his cellphone to send text messages and participating in physical therapy. At about the same time, Jennifer, Maya and Evan finished a 14-day quarantine and celebrated with a drive to visit and thank a friend who provided meals and helped organize a birthday celebration while they were confined at home. Of course, they expressed their appreciation from a safe social distance.

On April 6, Jennifer made the following post:

“16 Days ago I drove Neil to Danbury hospital. We were both scared and uncertain about what would happen. I literally had to drop him off at the curb and drive away not sure if I would ever see him again. It was a journey I never want to have to experience again. Love, faith, family and friends carried me through. Some days I’m not sure how. One thing I know for certain is that prayer IS powerful, and God hears us even when we think we are alone. Miracles happen. Neil is proof of that. The next step in our journey will be a long and difficult one but I’m thankful to just be able to have the opportunity to even have a journey with him. Today his ‘plane has landed’, and HE IS HOME. We feel blessed and so very thankful. Neil Chaudhary, the kids and I are having the very BEST day!!

“Please continue to pray, for those in similar situations as ours.”

On Friday, Jennifer shared that Neil continues to improve every day.

“It will be weeks of physical and pulmonary therapy and months before he is fully recovered,” she said. “But he has been given a second chance at life with his family, and for that they are all most thankful and truly blessed.”