Palatine Mom On Coronavirus: 'I Couldn't Breathe'

PALATINE, IL — A Palatine mother of three continues to recover from the new coronavirus, describing her battle with COVID-19 as both "lonely" and "painful."

Natalie Dicosola, 39, is another perfect example that the virus can strike anyone — not just the elderly. In a recent interview with WGN-TV, she said she tested positive for the virus in mid-March after coming down with textbook symptoms, which included a low-grade fever and a cough. However, her symptoms soon intensified.

"It was like an elephant sat on my chest, and I couldn't breathe. Every breath, every word I spoke was an intense pain," she told the news station.

Discolas ended up spending three nights at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights where doctors and nurses, who were covered from head to toe in protective gear, tended to her closely.

Since her release, Discolas says she is currently self-isolating in her basement away from her husband and children.

Watch Natalie Dicosola's WGN-TV coronavirus story here.

According to the TV station, she shared her story in hopes of encouraging people who have recovered from the virus to donate their plasma to help find a cure for COVID-19.

People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma that can attack the virus, the American Red Cross reports. This convalescent plasma is being evaluated as a treatment for patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections or those judged by a healthcare provider to be at high risk of progression to severe or life-threatening disease.

For information on donating plasma, click here.