Stephen A. Smith says he was could have DIED after being hospitalized with COVID-19

Stephen A. Smith delved into his horrifying bout with COVID-19 over the New Yr’s vacation when he returned to ESPN’s First Tackle Monday.

The 54-year-old sports activities commentator kicked off his return to set by revealing that he feared he would possibly day after he was hospitalized with a 103-degree fever and double pneumonia.

‘I didn’t know if I used to be going to make it,’ Smith mentioned, including that his medical doctors informed him he might need died from the intense sickness if he hadn’t been vaccinated.

Because the sports activities fixture started to share his tail, he repeatedly interrupted himself to cough and clear his throat, although he famous that he was now adverse for COVID-19.

‘You’re assuming that you simply’ll have a fever, might need a cough, gonna have that huge headache — however you’ll recover from it,’ he mentioned, after noting that folks can have totally different reactions to the coronavirus. ‘In plenty of instances that was the case. In my case it was completely totally different.

‘I had 103-degree fever each evening. Awakened with chills and a pool of sweat. Complications have been huge. Coughing profusely,’ he continued. 

‘And it obtained to a degree the place proper earlier than New Yr’s Eve, I used to be within the hospital into New Yr’s Day. That’s how I introduced within the New Yr.’

He added, ‘They informed me, had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be right here. That’s how unhealthy I used to be.’

Smith mentioned he developed pneumonia in each lungs, and that his purchased with the sickness additionally broken his liver. 

‘It had ravaged me to the purpose the place even now I’ve monitor my quantity — get to the health club each day, stroll earlier than you run. Work your manner again as a result of I’m nonetheless not one hundred pc with my lungs, however I’m COVID adverse. I’m on the street to restoration,’ he defined.

Smith added that he ‘wouldn’t be right here’ if it hadn’t been for the group of medical doctors serving to him recuperate.

He used his near-death expertise to advocate for viewers to get totally vaccinated towards the coronavirus, as his medical doctors cited it as what stored him alive.

‘The vaccine, in response to [my doctors] saved me,’ he mentioned.

Smith famous that ‘everyone’s totally different,’ and talked about his sister, who’s a smoker however had recovered from COVID-19 inside a matter of days.

‘Me? I don’t smoke and it nearly took me out,’ the host continued.  

He additionally cited correct masks carrying as important to fight the pandemic. 

‘I believe the one factor to emphasise the significance of, irrespective of how you’re feeling in regards to the vaccine, that masks is necessary,’ he mentioned. ‘The rationale why the masks is so necessary is you don’t know the way the following individual is affected. How I’m affected is totally different from you’re affected.’

He urged his followers to ‘take into consideration your fellow man and lady, not simply your self, in relation to this.’ 

Smith famous that he took extra sick days prior to now month than he had all through his ’28-year profession on this enterprise mixed,’ although he was ‘ecstatic’ to be again to work.

‘I can’t let you know how fortunate and sincerely blessed I’m to be sitting right here with you guys at the moment, as a result of two-and-a-half, three weeks in the past, I didn’t know if I used to be going to make it,’ he concluded his introduction earlier than getting right down to enterprise.

He gave the impression to be extra sprightly later within the broadcast when he whipped out a cowboy hat and grabbed a cigar to brag in regards to the Dallas Cowboys’ season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.