Gerry and Georgene Stephens, who have been married for 50 years, were the first couple to both receive treatment for COVID-19 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Gerry, who had a cough, fever and difficulty breathing, was intubated for much of his three-week stay at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, which started March 17. Georgene developed symptoms after Gerry and spent two days in the same hospital. While Gerry was in the ICU, Georgene was in a different unit recovering with a serious, but less severe case of COVID-19. Georgene was discharged on March 20. Gerry returned home April 8, weak and 35 pounds lighter. One of their providers, Brian Garibaldi, says they are examples of how different people can respond differently to COVID-19.

More than 100 doctors, nurses and other front-line staff members are believed to have cared for the couple during and after their hospitalizations, including a home care team that came to the Stephens’ home more than a dozen times to help Gerry regain his strength.

Both Gerry and Georgene are now doing well and are active, including going on a 4-mile hike.

Gerry and Georgene and members of their care team are available for media interviews. The couple also shared their experience in a video and article on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.

For information from Johns Hopkins Medicine about the coronavirus pandemic, visit hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus. For information on the coronavirus from throughout the Johns Hopkins enterprise, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and The Johns Hopkins University, visit coronavirus.jhu.edu.