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Scars of COVID persist for sickest survivors, their families

Freddy Fernandez rests on the porch of his home after taking a short walk Friday, June 10, 2022, in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez holds his 8-month-old daughter, Mariana Friday, June 10, 2022, at their home in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez buckles the shoes of his four-year-old daughter, Melanii, while his fiancé, Vanessa Cruz, holds their 8-month-old daughter Mariana Friday, June 10, 2022, at their home in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez uses a machine to exercise while his daughter, Melanii, 4, watches Friday, June 10, 2022, at their home in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez holds his 8-month-old daughter, Mariana, as he sits with his fiancé, Vanessa Cruz, and their other daughter, Melanii, 4, in the living room of their home Friday, June 10, 2022, in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez walks with his daughter, Melanii, 4, and an oxygen tank, outside their home in Carthage, Mo., on Friday, June 10, 2022. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Melanii Fernandez, 4, puts a portable oxygen tank away after going for a walk with her father, Freddy Fernandez Friday, June 10, 2022, in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez uses a device to monitor his blood oxygen level Friday, June 10, 2022, in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez looks out from the porch of his home after taking a short walk Friday, June 10, 2022, in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez is tethered to an oxygen concentrator as he stands in the living room of his home Friday, June 10, 2022, in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Freddy Fernandez sits with his fiancé, Vanessa Cruz, and their 8-month-old daughter, Mariana Fernandez in their home Friday, June 10, 2022, in Carthage, Mo. After contracting COVID-19 in August 2021, Fernandez spent months hooked up to a respirator and an ECMO machine before coming home in February 2022 to begin his long recovery from the disease. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)