When Rohan Bhondekar caught COVID-19 in the dark, pre-vaccine days of 2020, the odds were brutally stacked against him.
- 89 days on a ventilator
- 59 days in the ICU
- 42 days on ECMO (external heart-lung machine)
- 51 days on dialysis
- 63 days with a tracheostomy & gastrostomy tube
- Two cardiac arrests (4 min & 12 min)
- An unthinkable total of 125+ days shuttling between acute care, long-term care and rehab
Yet today, he’s back at work full-time—standing, walking and even kicking a soccer ball with his kids.
In this episode, Dr. Kay welcomes Rohan and his wife, Mansi, to talk about their new book “Cheating Covid: A Family’s Journey to Hell and Back.” 💪📖
Discover:
- How a multidisciplinary ICU team at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center pulled off what many called a medical miracle
- The moment Mansi refused to give up hope— and the tiny victories that kept her going
- What really happens inside an ICU during a months-long battle for survival
- The emotional toll on their three young children—and the life lessons they now share with other families
- Why feedback from long-stay ICU survivors is so rare and so vital for doctors, nurses and hospital leaders
Whether you’re a healthcare professional hungry for first-hand insight, a caregiver searching for hope, or simply someone who wants to understand the human side of this historic pandemic, this conversation will move you, educate you and, above all, inspire you.
👀 Watch to the end for:
- Rohan’s message to frontline workers who saved his life
- Mansi’s tips on advocating for a loved one in critical care
- Dr. Kay’s reflections after 40+ years in the ICU—and why this story still keeps him up at night
📘 Grab the Book: “Cheating Covid: A Family’s Journey to Hell and Back” (now available wherever books are sold).
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⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 Intro & episode teaser
2:15 Rohan’s first symptoms and rapid decline
8:40 Life on ECMO: explained by Dr. Kay
14:10 Mansi’s daily call with the ICU team
21:00 The day the ventilator finally came off
27:45 Coming home in a wheelchair— and the long road to walking again
35:30 Writing “Cheating Covid” together
42:00 Advice for families facing critical illness
49:55 Dr. Kay’s closing thoughts and next-episode preview
#CheatingCovid #ICUSurvivor #DrKayPodcast #MedicalMiracle #FamilyStrength #BaylorStLukes #COVID19 #HealthCareHeroes