Bartow County

Man who contracted coronavirus says he will now have to be on dialysis for years

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — For Shaun Evans something suddenly interrupted his otherwise happy life – the coronavirus.

“I was having shortness of breath, almost like the flu but a lot harder. I’ve never been through anything like this in my life,” said Evans. “It hit me and it knocked me down.”

Seemingly out of nowhere, the father of two young girls who is also engaged to be married, found himself in the hospital in Bartow County fighting to survive.

“I was worried,” said Evans. “I was scared. I was thinking about my family.”

For safety reasons, Channel 2’s Justin Wilfon talked with Evans over FaceTime.

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Evans believes he’s one of several people who contracted the virus at the Church at Liberty Square in Cartersville.

“The only place that I’ve been where someone had had that virus,” said Evans.

But unlike some other people with the virus, Shaun’s fight will continue for years.

Doctors told him the virus pushed his pre-existing kidney condition – over the edge.

“More than likely I’ll have to be on dialysis for the rest of my life until I can find a kidney transplant,” said Evans.

He is now out of the hospital, but his struggle is not over.

“I’m going to fight as hard as I can to make it,” said Evans.