Nancy and David Writebol plan to enjoy their time together now that Nancy has fully recovered from her illness.
The two American missionaries, Nancy Writebol and Kent Brantly, who had contracted the Ebola virus while serving in Liberia through their respective ministries, were released from the Emory University Hospital today after having fully recovered from the virus.
"After a rigorous course of treatment and testing, the Emory Healthcare team has determined that both patients have recovered from the Ebola virus and can return to their families and community without concern for spreading this infection to others," said Bruce Ribner, MD, director of Emory's Infectious Disease Unit.
The medical team at the Emory University Hospital determined they were ready to be released after blood and urine diagnostic tests and standard infectious disease protocols. Both patients do not pose any public health threat, the medical team said.
Both Writebol and Brantly expressed tremendous gratitude to the Emory medical team, to their families and friends who had been praying for and supporting them, but most importantly, they both thanked God for this miracle.
"During the course of her fight, Nancy recalled the dark hours of fear and loneliness, but also a sense of deep abiding peace and presence of God, giving her comfort," David Writebol, Nancy Writebol's husband, said.
"She was greatly encouraged knowing that there were so many people around the world lifting prayers to God for her return to health. Her departure from the hospital, free of the disease, is powerful testimony to God's sustaining grace in time of need," he added.
Brantly said that when Writebol was leaving her isolation room, "all she could say was, "To God be the glory.'"
Dr. Kent Brantly celebrates his recovery with his treatment team at Emory University Hospital.
"As I lay in my bed in Liberia for the following nine days, getting sicker and weaker each day, I prayed that God would help me to be faithful even in my illness, and I prayed that in my life or in my death, He would be glorified," said Brantly. He went on to explain that none of his or Writebols' supporters' prayers was in vain, and that God is "a faithful God who answers prayers."
People around both Writebol and Brantly were inspired by their faith and courage during the time of their sickness, and their faith in the Lord.
"Over the past few weeks I have marveled at Dr. Brantly's courageous spirit as he has fought this horrible virus with the help of the highly competent and caring staff at Emory University Hospital," said Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritan's Purse, the ministry through which Brantly served in Liberia. "His faithfulness to God and compassion for the people of Africa have been an example to us all."
Indeed, even after having recovered, both are still looking outwards: toward God, and toward others.
Writebol and her husband are spending a "long, well-deserved break of peace and quiet to reflect on all that has transpired over the five weeks, all that God has done, and seeking how God will lead them in future paths of service," said Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA. Writebol had served in Liberia through SIM.
Brantly expressed while leaving the hospital that he is actually glad that his sickness brought attention to "the plight of West Africa in the midst of this epidemic." Both Brantly and Writebol are hopeful that what the medical community learned through their illness will be able to help others with the virus.
