CINCINNATI, Ohio — For the first time in more than two years, a former first responder reunited Wednesday with the air care medical staff that helped save his life. 

What You Need To Know

  •  On Wednesday, a former police lieutenant reunited with his care team, who helped save his life when he had COVID-19 in 2021

  • He spent nearly 90 days in the hospital before he was released 

  • Bishop said it was the medical care and support from family and friends that helped save his life  

In Oct. 2021, former Mason Police Lieutenant Michael Bishop was admitted to West Chester Hospital with COVID-19 complications. One week later, Bishop’s lungs were failing, and he needed to be airlifted to UC Medical Center.

While he was in the air, doctors performed an emergency procedure to help save his life. He ended up being in a coma for two months, but eventually recovered. And now he is getting the chance to thank the doctors who made that possible.

“To be back here, even though I don’t remember the first time. It’s a very surreal, almost feels like a dream type experience,” said Michael Bishop, a former lieutenant with Mason Police Department.

“Seeing Michael today is unbelievable,” said Dr. Tony Fabiano, a UC Medical Center flight physician. “It’s just something I’ve been looking forward to for at least two and a half years since this flight happened. We have the opportunity to watch patients’ charts and see how they progress. And I watched him in the ICU and I was rooting for him.”

Bishop said he would not be alive today if it were not for the care he received from the hospital and the support from family and friends.