SSUSA Members Recover From COVID-19

April 1, 2020

Pumpkin Ed poses with his award winning pumpkin

The family of one player attributed his recovery from a serious case of COVID-19 to his good health from playing senior softball.

Ed Givens, of Delaware and a member of The Starboard/OTS 60, recovered from double pneumonia – and several days on a ventilator -- caused by COVID-19.

Ed and his wife Cindy were drive back home from Wisconsin March 16-17, where they had been celebrating their grandchildren's birthdays. The couple had developed coughs, which they attributed to "Wisconsin Baby Krud."

As Ed's condition worsened, he was tested for COVID-19 on March 21, and found he was positive on the 25th. He went directly to the hospital, where he would be for two weeks.

On the 27th, Ed was moved into a new COVID ICU, and as his lungs/double pneumonia continued to get worse, he was put on a ventilator on the 31st. He would be on the ventilator until April 5 and sent home on April 7.

“He came home 17 pounds thinner and pretty weak," said Cindy. "For one day he used a walker, but since then he is just getting a little stronger every day! He started in home PT, and it stopped today (April 23). His therapist is amazed at how well he is doing! His doctors are pleased and very hopeful that his lungs will not be damaged. He has not coughed at all since coming home, which I have learned is major.”

"He is going to be fine," continued Cindy. "When asked why - the three things that helped save him were putting him in the prone position (for the first three days on the ventilator, Ed spent 16 hours on his stomach), the medication they tried, and mainly his overall good health. And we attribute his good physical condition to softball! My kids sometimes complain that he plays too much - now our story is that softball helped save his life! There will be NO more comments about the number of games he plays or tournaments he attends."

Givens and his Starboard/OTS team had a solid 2019 season, winning the Tidewater Classic and Original Tournament of Champions.

Known for his 1,500-lb award winning pumpkins in the DE/PA/NJ area, he is rightfully nicknamed Pumpkin Ed.

Along with Givens, Tony King, a coach on Saints (Women’s 40) from Arizona, is also home recovering after being in the hospital for a week due to COVID-19.

“Tony has lost 30 pounds and continues to cough, but his lung capacity is coming around,” said Jimmy King, Tony’s brother and manager of the Saints.  “He continues to stay quarantined and is pretty much staying in his bedroom. The doctors say he should be back as good as new in about another month to month and a half.  I would like to thank everyone on his behalf for all the prayers and well wishes as he continues his comeback.  He mentioned that being back to the softball field would do more good for him than anything else.”

We look forward to seeing Tony and Ed out on the fields again soon.