Podcast Summary: We're Out of Time

Episode: The First COVID Patient in Burbank: Gregg Garfield’s Fight to Survive

Host: Richard Taite
Guest: Gregg Garfield
Date: March 10, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

Richard Taite welcomes his high school friend Gregg Garfield, famously one of the first COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Burbank, California, with doctors giving him just a 1% chance of survival. The episode centers on Gregg's harrowing battle with the earliest, deadliest COVID strain, his dramatic medical journey, the mental and physical resilience required to recover (including the loss of most fingers and some toes), and the essential support from loved ones and the wider community. The conversation is a deep dive into survival, adaptability, purpose, and the power of collective care during a once-in-a-century health crisis.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

The Onset of COVID-19: Gregg’s Story Begins

• Ski Trip in Italy & Exposure (03:41–09:00)
  • Gregg describes a guy's ski trip to Val Gardena, Italy, in February 2020, just as news of the coronavirus was hitting.
  • Some of the group begin experiencing flu-like symptoms; at the time, most assumed it was simply the flu.
  • Gregg recounts traveling back to LA via Munich, learning mid-flight that a friend hospitalized in Munich had tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Arrival in LA predated public awareness and airport screenings.

Notable Quote:

“We all started getting flu-like symptoms. I was a little sicker than a couple of the other guys… When we got on the plane, there was no worry whatsoever.”
— Gregg Garfield (07:33)

The Diagnosis and Hospitalization

• First Encounter with U.S. Pandemic Protocols (09:00–10:46)
  • Gregg tested positive via CDC-arranged hazmat team and was told to quarantine at home.
  • After worsening symptoms and confusion, friends intervened and called hospitals around LA—none except St. Joseph’s in Burbank would accept him.
  • St. Joseph’s had a special “inflow room”; donning full hazmat gear just to enter his room took 15 minutes.
• Critical Condition (10:46–12:01)
  • Admitted March 5; intubated and put into a medically induced coma on March 7 for 31 days.
  • Suffered life-threatening complications: MRSA, sepsis, embolism, ARDS, multi-organ failure, repeated code blues (flatlining), and nearly required ECMO (“iron lung”).

Notable Quote:

“When I checked in the morning of the 5th, it took them 15 minutes to gear up, full suits, hazmat gear... I coded. I’m done if they weren’t ready.”
— Gregg Garfield (00:00, 09:19)

“I was a very, incredibly healthy person... Today, they literally don’t know why I survived.”
— Gregg Garfield (11:40)

Survival, Recovery & Mindset

• Physical Aftermath (12:01–15:14)

  • Gregg lost all fingers on his right hand and most on his left, sections of toes, suffered severe muscle atrophy, and weight loss (lost 50 lbs).
  • Underwent nine surgeries in eight months and months of arduous rehabilitation to relearn everyday functions.

• Setting Micro and Macro Goals (14:50–16:24)

  • Recovery was fueled by setting practical, incremental goals (e.g., walking to the bathroom to avoid bedpans).
  • Emotional and motivational support came from his “village”—a broad support network.

Notable Quote:

“I never had a bad day, ever. I had bad moments, but I never had a bad day.”
— Gregg Garfield (22:04)

“My focus was to get and do the work, get busy, to get to be able to walk out of that hospital.”
— Gregg Garfield (16:19)

The Power of Human Connection

• Community Support (“Village”) (16:24–17:06, 24:37–25:14)
  • Gregg’s dramatic journey garnered nationwide attention; his friends, family, and an extended network provided ongoing love and well-wishes.
  • Regular updates about his condition were essential for both morale and recovery.

Notable Quote:

“There was so much love and support that I did not want to fail for them… I didn’t want to fail for that.”
— Gregg Garfield (16:56)

The Return to Life and Sport

• Journey Back to Skiing (17:32–21:22)
  • Against all odds, Gregg challenged his surgeon to get him back on skis before year’s end—and succeeded.
  • Adapted to using one ski pole, later found adaptive equipment allowing full participation again.
  • Learned to compensate physically and emotionally, regaining confidence and independence.

Notable Quote:

“There was a slight part of me that didn’t think I was getting there because of the struggles… When I was going up [the chairlift] it was the most freeing feeling ever.”
— Gregg Garfield (17:40)

Love, Loyalty, and Care in Crisis

• AJ’s (Fiancée’s) Role (21:22–33:12)
  • AJ and Gregg had only been dating 18 months at his illness’ onset; her devotion through crisis was unwavering.
  • She coordinated care, became family to Gregg’s sister, gave daily health updates to the “village,” and was the first to visit Gregg when hospitals began permitting visits.
  • AJ risked her own safety to rescue Gregg’s beloved dog Bear, navigating hazmat protocols and braving Gregg’s fortress-like home.

Notable Quote:

“She’s a beast... She saved Bear’s life and in turn, Bear saved hers.”
— Gregg Garfield (29:51, 33:12)

The Experience of ICU Delirium

• Hallucinations and Psychosis (25:46–29:16)
  • Gregg recounts vivid delirium and psychosis on waking, including believing nurses were involved in murders and that loved ones had died.
  • Presence and reassurance from AJ snapped him abruptly back to reality, prompting the hospital to prioritize daily visits for mental health as vital to recovery as physical care.

Notable Quote:

“I was losing my shit, and I was a mess... I snapped out of it the day AJ got there.”
— Gregg Garfield (27:04, 28:54)

Lessons Learned & Lasting Transformation

• Attitude and Perspective (33:27–34:31)
  • Four years on, Gregg expresses heightened gratitude, optimism, and purpose, refusing to live as a victim and treasuring life’s fragility.
  • Host Richard Taite likens Gregg to “the greatest generation” for his resilience and gratitude.

Notable Quote:

“Every day I wake up in the morning, life is a gift.”
— Gregg Garfield (33:56)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Adam Silver’s decision to pause the NBA, triggering national shutdown:

  “He saved thousands and thousands of lives... He’s the one that had the intestinal fortitude to stop that thing.”
  — Richard Taite (01:01–07:06)

• On the darkest moments:

  “I died four different times on the table.”
  — Gregg Garfield (25:26)

• Host’s highest compliment:

  “You remind me of my grandfather. And that’s the highest compliment I can give anybody.”
  — Richard Taite (22:32; 34:37)

Important Timestamps

• 03:41 – Italy trip and initial illness
• 07:33 – Mid-flight notification of COVID exposure
• 09:19 – Hospital admission, pandemic protocols
• 10:46 – Coma and life-or-death struggle in ICU
• 12:01 – Physical aftermath and surgeries
• 14:50 – Micro goal setting and rehab
• 17:32 – Returning to the ski mountain
• 21:22 – Support from fiancée and creation of the “village”
• 25:46 – ICU psychosis and recovery of mental health
• 29:51 – Famous dog rescue in hazmat gear
• 33:27 – Lasting impact and new outlook on life

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, unsparing, and powerful, blending gallows humor between friends with raw honesty about fear, pain, and hope. Richard Taite’s compassionate, probing questions draw out Gregg's inspiring humility and practical wisdom. The overall tone is uplifting: resilience is not portrayed as extraordinary, but as a choice and collective endeavor.

Takeaways

• Preparation Saves Lives: Early pandemic protocols and dedicated medical teams were essential to survival for early patients.
• Resilience Is Built on Micro-Milestones: Surviving and thriving after trauma relies on setting tangible goals and staying present.
• Loved Ones and Community Matter: Emotional support—from partners, friends, and even pets—is as critical as physical medicine.
• Attitude Is Everything: Maintaining a “never a bad day” mindset fosters perseverance and post-traumatic growth.
• Gratitude Anchors Recovery: Near-death experiences can be transforming, fostering gratitude for life’s simple gifts.

Notable Quotes & Attribution

• “I never had a bad day, ever. I had bad moments, but I never had a bad day.” — Gregg Garfield (22:04)
• “When I checked in the morning of the 5th, it took them 15 minutes to gear up, full suits, hazmat gear.” — Gregg Garfield (00:00, 09:19)
• “Every day I wake up in the morning, life is a gift.” — Gregg Garfield (33:56)
• “You remind me of our greatest generation.” — Richard Taite (22:32, 34:37)

For anyone seeking hope, practical advice in adversity, or simply a powerful human story, this episode is unmissable.