Taken ‘To The Brink’: How 8 NJ Locals Beat COVID-19

NEW JERSEY — Jissel Rosario first arrived at the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center on April 21 with an "incredibly swollen and blue" left leg, administrators said.

Doctors soon discovered that the 12-year-old had an extremely large, venous clot, which could have broken at any time and caused cardiac arrest.

That's exactly what happened at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon in the hospital's pediatric catheterization lab, when the 12-year-old "coded," administrators said.

The 12-year-old New Jersey girl is alive, but she almost lost her life possibly to a disease that has harmed not just the vulnerable but the young, too.

Since March, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has rattled New Jersey communities. From closing local schools to permanently shuttering small businesses to taking more than 16,000 lives, the virus has left virtually no individual untouched by its devastating effects.

But of the 449,800 total New Jerseyans that have come down with the virus to date, there are, of course, the survivors. Many of their stories are part inspiration and part harrowing, showing the true danger COVID-19 has posed to the Garden State's population.

In Rosario's case, the blood clot went from her leg into her lungs and caused her heart to stop. Newark Beth Israel staff leaped into action and performed CPR for nearly an hour, before putting Rosario on a heart and lung bypass machine.

A heartbreaking game of see-saw lasted for three days. As the machine kept Rosario alive, a full team of surgeons, specialists and other health care experts tirelessly worked to make sure she'd make it back home.

Read more: Newark Hospital Saves 'Coding' Girl Who Has Virus Antibodies

Below is just a sampling of local stories highlighting the fear, isolation and resilience that comes with a diagnosis — as well as the joy that comes with surviving:

Newark Nurse Gets 'Clap Out' From Peers After Beating Coronavirus: It wasn't long ago that Mary Koch was a COVID-19 inpatient. Watch a video of her emotional discharge from the hospital.

Watch Rousing Cheers, Tears For Recovering Essex County Prison CO: Andrew Crooks spent nearly two months in the hospital with COVID-19, including a harrowing 32 days hooked up to a ventilator.

Coronavirus Took East Orange Councilman 'To The Brink' And Back: Mustafa Al-M. Brent, who also serves as a firefighter in Newark, says he's on the mend after being hospitalized for COVID-19.

Newark Hospital Saves 'Coding' Girl Who Has Virus Antibodies: A 12-year-old New Jersey girl almost lost her life to a blood clot. It may have been caused by the coronavirus, the hospital says. (VIDEOS)

Belleville Mayor Has Coronavirus Antibodies; Here's What It Means: Was Belleville Mayor Michael Melham among the first COVID-19 cases in the United States? There's a good chance of it, he says.

Bridgewater Doctor Recovers From Coronavirus, Donates Plasma: Dr. John Bucek at RWJBH University Somerset Hospital is donating his plasma to help those infected with the coronavirus.

NJ Man Makes 'Miracle' Coronavirus Recovery At Wayne Facility: In May, Luis Martinez was on a ventilator after contracting COVID-19. Last week, he walked out of the Lakeview Rehabilitation & Care Center.

Bound Brook Officer Donates Plasma To Save Lives On His Birthday: Bound Brook police Officer Frank Waller, who has since recovered from the new coronavirus, donated plasma on his birthday to help others.

With reporting by Eric Kiefer