TriVent Healthcare News

After 39 days on a ventilator due to COVID-19, Justin Moon, 36, woke up with a hole in his throat, unable to talk, walk or move. All he could do was blink.  Moon, a Tuscaloosa resident and former University of Alabama football player, was admitted to his local hospital with COVID-19 on July 21, 2021. Days later, he was placed on a ventilator and transported to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Moon spent 79 days in the hospital, with most of those days at UAB Hospital. He is currently on the road to recovery, regaining his strength and learning how to walk, stand up and use his right arm again after experiencing nerve damage.

A former University of Alabama football player is currently relearning how to walk, stand up and use his right arm again after experiencing nerve damage from the effects of COVID-19. At the same time, Justin Moon, 36, and his wife Mel, have used their story to encourage friends to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. They estimate about 250 have so far have heeded the message. Moon, 36, of Guntersville, played at the Capstone from 2003 through 2006.

Alabama is grappling with surging deaths as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain high and intensive care unit capacity is stretched. The state reported record numbers of new cases and hospitalizations following the holidays. At one point last week, only 39 ICU beds were available statewide.