2020 YIR: ‘Not My Time to Die’
Nine months ago, Tony Levitas landed in the hospital for a month due to coronavirus. He recorded a song after the experience, ‘Not My Time To Die.‘
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
May 11, 2020
In early March, on the nascent crest of the world struggling to understand COVID, Tony Levitas’ coronavirus case landed him in Northside Hospital for a month. Facebook was loaded with prayers for Dr. Levitas. After his release, he reported to the AJT on his ordeal. Nine months later he looks back.
He stated, “It’s been a long and difficult year for all, but I’m still quite grateful to be here, a COVID-19 survivor. My most bothersome lingering symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating for extended periods of time, arthritis-like pain in my hands, fingers, knees and ankles, and I still have a lump in my throat from being on the ventilator for so long, making it difficult to talk for long periods of time. I cannot sing the high notes as I used to be able to. If that is the worst I have to deal with, I’ll take it gladly.”
He now works part time and is able to do moderate exercise and play golf. Many of his patients have been traumatized by COVID, and he relays that much anxiety and stress abounds.
“I’m especially saddened and disgusted with the way our president has downplayed this horrific pandemic, calling it a hoax, and continued to hold large gatherings without masks or social distancing while well over a quarter of a million of our fellow citizens have died.”
Levitas is optimistic that with the vaccine, COVID can be beaten.
In the spring he recorded a song, “Not My Time To Die,” and has received a lot of positive feedback. It can be seen on his Facebook page from a July 3 posting.
“This has been an extremely productive and creative period for me, writing several new songs post-hospital, some of which can be found on Facebook or at www.reverbnation.com/tonylevitas,” he told the AJT. “Every day I practice gratitude and I’m very thankful to be here, and enjoy life, my loved ones and do the things that bring me happiness. I must offer a very heartfelt thank you to all the people who sent prayers of love and support while battling Covid. I know it helped pull me through. Praying for a better 2021!”
comments