--- title: Giving Back to Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Dr. Thomas Connolly description: Giving Back to Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Thomas Connolly DDS image: https://pages.ada.org/hubfs/Covid%20Monograph/CM_Connoly_square.jpg --- [![American Dental Association](https://pages.ada.org/hs-fs/hubfs/101520_ADA_logo.jpg?width=50&height=50&name=101520_ADA_logo.jpg) ](https://www.ada.org) [![American Dental Association](https://pages.ada.org/hs-fs/hubfs/101520_ADA_logo.jpg?width=50&height=50&name=101520_ADA_logo.jpg) ](https://www.ada.org) ** ## In It Together A community sourced archive, documenting COVID-19’s impact on dentistry ***Sponsored by [Patterson Dental](https://www.pattersondental.com/)*** #### Many in the dental community have been affected by COVID-19 and want to share their stories. As a result, the ADA is launching the JADA+ COVID-19 Monograph—a digital collection of stories, reflections, and accounts from any perspective, in any format, including articles, essays, podcasts, videos, graphics, and photos—that is open to all contributors. [Submit your COVID-19 story here.](https://pages.ada.org/jada-plus-monograph-submissions) Stories by Region [Outside the US ](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/outside-the-us) --- # Giving Back to Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Dr. Thomas Connolly In mid-march during my walk in Central Park (New York City), I thought my allergies were acting up with the trees and flowers bloom. The next morning I could not have more wrong, the Corona-virus struck. The next two weeks were rough with fever, chills, muscle aches and sleeping 20 hours a day. Each evening, I did two things. The first was to pray to God that I would survive. The second was to leave my quarantine room ajar and a light on so my wife could check on my breathing as I slept. I am fortunate that God heard my prayers and I turned the corner by the 12th day. I am now fully recovered. ![CM_Connoly_1](https://pages.ada.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Covid%20Monograph/CM_Connoly_1.jpg?width=667&name=CM_Connoly_1.jpg) It took 3 weeks for the hospital to send a hard copy of my Covid 19 positive test. I immediately reached out to the hospital to volunteer for an antibody study and to donate Convalescent Plasma through the New York City Blood Center which involves 3 donations a week apart. Hopefully, my plasma has enough antibodies to help others! I strongly encourage anyone who tested positive for Covid 19 to donate their plasma. [Here is a link to help find donation centers in your area. ](https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html)        ***Stay safe and Stay strong. __________ Dr. Thomas Connolly *** Topics: [Practitioners](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/practitioners), [Personal Essay](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/personal-essay), [Region–Northeast](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/region-northeast) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Stories by type - [Practitioners (58)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/practitioners) - [Personal Essay (35)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/personal-essay) - [Region–Northeast (23)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/region-northeast) - [Region–West (22)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/region-west) - [Clinical Observations (17)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/clinical-observations) - [Region–South (16)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/region-south) - [Region–Midwest (12)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/region-midwest) - [Art and Photography (10)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/art-and-photography) - [Multimedia (8)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/multimedia) - [Students (8)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/students) - [Creative writing (6)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/creative-writing) - [Patients (4)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/patients) - [Region–Outside the US (3)](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/tag/region-outside-the-us) [See all](https://pages.ada.org/en/covidmonograph/giving-back-to-others-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-thomas-connolly-dds#) ### Most Viewed Stories ***Sponsored by: [![CM_Sponsor_Patterson_2](https://pages.ada.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Covid%20Monograph/CM_Sponsor_Patterson_2.png?width=250&name=CM_Sponsor_Patterson_2.png)](https://www.pattersondental.com/)***   ### Subscribe for updates [![JADA+_logo_rev](https://pages.ada.org/hs-fs/hubfs/JADA+_logo_rev.png?width=200&height=80&name=JADA+_logo_rev.png "JADA+_logo_rev")](https://pages.ada.org/) Contact us at [JADA@ada.org](mailto:JADA@ada.org) Visit the [ADA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Center for Dentists](https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/patients/infectious-diseases-2019-novel-coronavirus?utm_source=hspage&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=CovidMonograph)   --- *The JADA+ COVID-19 Monograph intends no endorsement of the content of the entries, or the views or opinions of the authors that are expressed therein. Furthermore, the JADA+ COVID-19 Monograph makes no representations or warranties about the information and opinions set forth in the entries, over which the JADA+ COVID-19 Monograph asserts only editorial, and no substantive control in any way.*   © 2021 American Dental Association **