LCSO deputy returns home after being on ventilator during COVID battle

A Lee County Sheriff’s deputy was able to return to normal after spending weeks on a ventilator battling COVID-19.

Sergeant Steve Drum and his family say they never thought this day would come.

Michele Drum says she never thought she’d see her husband, Steve, walk through their front door again. But on Friday, her dream came true and he did just that. His homecoming is something he and the rest of the family will never forget.

“To come home and see this many people, I’m blessed. And very lucky to be here,” Sgt. Drum said.

Sergeant Drum is just Steve to his family and friends. But, when he’s working with the Lee County Sheriff’ Office, he’s Sgt. Drum.

Drum was not vaccinated. Then, he contracted COVID-19 and spent nine weeks in a hospital bed. Four of those nine weeks were spent unconscious and on a ventilator.

“I know they told my wife at one point to start making decisions because I didn’t think I was going to make it through,” said Sgt. Drum.

“All I could think of was the kids weren’t gonna have their dad, I wasn’t gonna have my husband, I can’t imagine him not being here,” said Michelle.

Luckily, she doesn’t have to imagine because her husband was able to beat the odds. “There’s one doctor, Dr. Beltran at Select, every day he would come in and he would pray with me. Grab my hand and pray and so I’m telling you that the power of prayer is huge. Don’t give up on that,” Sgt. Drum said.

He says not to give up on your doctors or nurses either if you’re battling COVID-19 in the hospital. “I can’t get over what they did. They saved my life,” Sgt. Drum said.

Even though Sergeant Drum is back home now, his life will be forever changed. And his journey to recovery is far from over. “COVID’s not to play with I guess. I was a skeptic but the side effects of all the being intubated, got neuropathy in my feet, my hips are bad, I got tremors in my hands and my shoulders, I can’t raise my left arm,” Said Sgt. Drum.

While side effects are painful, being home is priceless. “He beat the odds,” Michele said with tears in her eyes.