Doyle Springs beats COVID

Throughout the whole situation he has kept the best attitude. He has been so uplifting and such a blessing to me and all the staff at the Choctaw Nation.”

Registered Nurse Shiann Bryce

A retired Norman Firefighter who has battled COVID for nearly a year, has been discharged from the hospital.

Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority discharged their special patient last week.

Doyle Springs spent 221 days in a health care facility due to the virus.

It was a combination of the Choctaw Nation Health Care Center and a rehabilitation facility in Oklahoma City. 42 of those days were on a ventilator.

But Springs fought back to regain his health and strength.

Pre-COVID, Doyle worked for the Chickasaw Nation.

In his off time he tended to his small farm.

“When I first met Doyle, he was barely able to lift his fingers. He had to be fed and assisted in and out of bed,” Registered Nurse Shiann Bryce said.

“Throughout the whole situation he has kept the best attitude,” Bryce continued. “He has been so uplifting and such a blessing to me and all the staff at the Choctaw Nation.”

“I am proud of him for being a Tushka Chahta (Choctaw warrior),” Chief Gary Batton said.

While in the hospital, Doyle’s brother died from the virus but Doyle was not made aware of this until a month later.

Springs reports he is looking forward to returning to church and “getting in my chair,” he said with a smile.

“I’m really thankful for the Choctaw Nation and the care they gave me. I’m proud to be a Choctaw Nation member.”

The hospital staff surprised Springs with a send-off filled with joyful claps and cheers as he walked out of the facility.

“They wheeled me in but I’m walking out,” he said.