Moffitt Nurse Back at Work After Battling COVID-19

Nearly five months after catching COVID-19, nurse Leo Begazo is back to work.

Begazo, the operations manager for the Blood Draw Clinic at Moffitt Cancer Center, his wife and children all tested positive for the virus this spring. It hit Begazo the hardest, landing him in the ICU on April 7.

Begazo was put on a ventilator and doctors gave him a 10% chance of survival. He was eventually enrolled on a clinical trial for frontline workers with COVID-19 and the medication saved his life. Begazo returned home to his family after almost three weeks in the hospital.

After spending the past months gaining strength and recovering lung function, Begazo returned to Moffitt on September 1. His team members celebrated his return with a luncheon.

Read more about Begazo’s COVID-19 battle here.

Begazo returned to work on September 1, nearly five months after catching COVID-19.

While at work, Begazo follows the COVID-19 protocols, which includes wearing a mask and face shield.

Begazo's coworkers surprised him with a luncheon and cake on his first day back.