The feeling of nearly losing her daughter is one Beth Otto is becoming unfortunately familiar with.

Six years after a car crash in Franklin Township left her seriously injured, Emily Brong, of Palmerton, faced another fight for her life after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in late March.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Otto said. “I almost lost her once, and here we were again. She was getting worse by the day. But you know Emily. She’s a fighter.”

And fight she did.

Backed by her loving family and the prayers of hundreds in Palmerton and neighboring communities, Brong won again and returned home Thursday just in time for her 22nd birthday.

Getting sick

Brong began feeling sick March 23 with nausea and headaches. Doctors, however, initially did not think she had coronavirus. Blood work came back normal and she had no fever or cough.

Still not feeling well on March 26, Brong was tested for the virus as well as influenza.

“She really rallied that Friday, the 27th,” Otto said. “She was outside and we were doing yard work. The next day, however, it was worse again. Emily barely ate and we knew something was wrong.”

On March 29, Brong’s oxygen saturation level dipped into the 70s and she passed out. Otto called 911 and Brong was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. A CT scan revealed her left lung was full of the virus.

“I was with her in the emergency department and she was declining right in front of my eyes,” Otto said. “Her breath was very labored. That was the last I saw of her in person until I brought her home Thursday.”

Hospital stay

Initially, Brong’s prognosis was “extremely poor,” her mother said.

“The doctors were not very hopeful at first and I didn’t think she was going to make it myself,” Otto said. “I would FaceTime with her and her speech was getting worse, it was just going downhill.”

Brong was receiving respiratory treatment including lying on her belly for two hours, two times a day, to help oxygenate the lungs.

“This was a huge accomplishment for Emily because her left side was very weak following the accident, she had paralysis,” Otto said.

Things looked grim, but then came day nine of Brong’s hospital stay. Her oxygen levels started to go up and she began to feel much better.

“It was like the flip of a light switch,” Otto said. “Her doctors called me and they were so excited after they saw her that day. In fact, Emily texted me and asked if she had COVID-19. She had no idea up to that point. We went from preparing for the worst to thinking she may actually come back from this.”

Mom gets her own scare

In addition to dealing with her daughter’s physical condition, Otto got a scare of her own.

“I was hospitalized for three days myself and tested for the virus,” she said.

Otto had chest pains and low oxygen levels that landed her at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, ironically the next hallway over from Emily.

“My test came back negative, but the doctors thought it was a false negative,” Otto said. “So even though the test didn’t show it, they think given my symptoms that there is a strong likelihood I did have it.”

Coming home

On Thursday morning, Otto, along with Brong’s stepfather and her nurse from Bayada Home Health Care, picked her up from the hospital.

“She was so excited because she didn’t know all of us were coming,” Otto said. “Every time a COVID-19 patient leaves from the hospital, they play a tune and it’s just really emotional.”

Just in time

Brong’s homecoming couldn’t have come at a better time. Today is her 22nd birthday and she is preparing for a very special celebration.

Friends have organized a special parade for her starting at 6:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Fireline Road in Palmerton and then heading to 889 Columbia Ave., where Brong lives.

“Emily is ecstatic, but I don’t think she realizes the magnitude of it,” Otto said. “She hasn’t seen any of these birthday parades yet, so it’s going to be an awesome experience for her.”

Friday is the culmination of what has been a month of unwavering support for Emily and her family.

“Palmerton is the most wonderful community,” Otto said. “We received well over 100 cards and the notes that people wrote are so touching. When Emily was in the hospital, people prepped meals or ordered dinner somewhere for us. It’s just truly incredible how lucky and fortunate we are to have all of these kind people in our lives.”