Editor's note: Four days after this story was published, David Stachowski's wife, Samantha, notified WGLT that his test results came back negative for COVID-19. He has a lung infection. "He's happy to be home with the kids and myself," Samantha told WGLT.
A father of three from Lexington who is quarantined in a tent in his backyard says he wants people to take the coronavirus more seriously and stay home.
David Stachowski, 54, has been sick since Tuesday with breathing issues and the chills. He’s awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test he took Wednesday at a Bloomington hospital. Stachowski said he was tested because he’s considered high-risk; he is a long-term HIV survivor.
“I’m not going to pull punches: I’m scared for my life. I’m scared that my children ain’t gonna have a father. I’m scared my wife is gonna have to deal with what happens now,” Stachowski told WGLT on Thursday.
Stachowski said it appears not enough people are heeding the stay-at-home order. He said the Menards parking lot in Normal was nearly full Wednesday when he drove into town for his COVID-19 test.
“There’s no need to lose extra life because of careless, irresponsible, selfish actions," he said.
For now, Stachowski is living in his large backyard tent. He’s got a TV, a lamp, a mattress, and a space heater. It’s been cold, and the chills don’t help.
“I get the chills so bad I can’t get warm. There aren’t enough blankets on the planet to get me warm right now,” Stachowski said between coughs.
Stachowski said it’s been hard on his kids—two girls and a boy, ages 9, 7, and 5—not being able to spend time together. His oldest daughter made him a “get well” card. He can interact with them through a window in the tent.
“I’m like an animal at the zoo,” he said with a laugh.
Stachowski, who is on disability and occasionally works as a handyman, said he has no idea how he might have contracted COVID-19. He said he’s been secluded ever since the governor’s stay-at-home order went into effect.
Stachowski acknowledged his unique situation—being on the front lines of two public health crises. He said he was one of the earliest people diagnosed with HIV to receive antiretroviral medication. Within his first year, he went down to an undetectable viral load and has been there ever since.
The hardest part, Stachowski said, is that there’s nothing doctors can really do for him if he does have COVID-19. The FDA has not approved a vaccine or treatment.
“It’s knowing there is no real answer. I’m only going to find out if I’m positive 100%, and that’s all they can do is tell me whether I’m gonna get worse or get better. And the way I’m going now—it’s Day 2 in this tent, and I woke up feeling worse today than I did yesterday. And I’m not thinking tomorrow is gonna be better," he said.
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