EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Ed Velasquez's doctors in Florida call him the Miracle Man because he miraculously survived an aortic dissection while on a business trip in Florida.
"It's basically where your aorta is splitting open. So he had to have emergency open heart surgery," said Holly Velasquez, his sister-in-law. "A lot of people who have an aortic dissection don't even make it to the hospital."
But Ed made the impossible possible, he even survived having a femoral bypass, fasciotomy, and dialysis - he had to spend six weeks in Florida.
"My dad is usually the one who pulls us all together and makes sure everyone's strong, and it was tough not having him," said John Velasquez, his 18-year-old son. "But when you have a big family everyone comes together and you all stick together and you get through it."
Ed was in Florida for business in February, he wasn't feeling well and went to the hospital. Restrictions on hospital visits due to COVID-19 meant he had to fight this alone. But on Thursday, he was finally home.
"I'm just excited, so many emotions goin through me right now. Emotional obviously I mean it's crazy being away from my dad for so long, he the rock of our family. So him being here us just everything to us. He holds us together," said John Velasquez.
Ed will stay in self-isolation for 14 days for his health and safety. His son said they plan to stay at a cottage this summer to celebrate his graduation.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to cover medical expenses.
