Plano Fire Chief Survives Covid After Spending 16 Days Hospitalized

PLANO, TX – The Plano Fire Chief is finally home after spending 16 days in the hospital fighting COVID-19. According to Chief Sam Greif, nothing could have prepared him for the fight against the virus.

“It was way harder than anything I’ve ever been through and I honestly didn’t know if I was gonna get through it or not,” said Greif. “For the love of God boys, y’all don’t want this. Stay safe out there.”

According to the staff at Medical City Plano. they were unsure of Greif's ability to survive when he was first admitted to the hospital.

“His case was potentially life-threatening he ended up with pretty decent pneumonia,” said Dr. Brandon Meek.

Chief Greif was treated with convalescent plasma and according to medical professionals, firefighters are at a higher risk of having severe COVID-19  complications.

“If you’ve been exposed to fire smoke in the past both then sure you’ve got a much worse chance of having a bad outcome with COVID,” said Dr. Meek.

In order to lift his spirits, Greif's wife, Rosemary, would hold up signs outside his hospital room on the days he struggled the most to breathe.

Greif was released on Monday, just days before his 25th wedding anniversary. The fire chief left the hospital in a wheelchair through halls lined up with hospital staff and Plano firefighters who cheered him on.

Chief Greif was emotional after finally hugging his wife for the first time in 16 days.

The chief will be required to stay home for at least two weeks before he can return to work.

“I’m just so grateful to God and everybody for the prayers, grateful to Medical City Plano and all my doctors,” said Greif.