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On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with COVID survivor Gregg Garfield to share one of the most extraordinary survival stories from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gregg recounts the moment everything changed while on a ski trip in the Italian Alps—when a warning call from his girlfriend first mentioned a mysterious virus spreading through Europe. Within days, flu-like symptoms spread through the group, and soon after returning to Los Angeles, Gregg tested positive. At the time, hospitals were unprepared for the virus, and he became the first COVID patient admitted to Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank.
Doctors told Gregg he had only a 1% chance of survival. After being placed into a medically induced coma and spending 31 days on a ventilator, he endured a cascade of life-threatening complications including sepsis, collapsed lungs, blood clots, and organ failure. Gregg flatlined multiple times and says doctors still cannot explain why he survived.
When he finally woke up, the battle was far from over. Gregg had lost most of his fingers and several toes due to the life-saving treatments that kept blood flowing to his vital organs. He had to relearn how to walk, eat, and rebuild muscle after losing over 50 pounds during his hospitalization.
Through the darkest moments, Gregg credits the strength of his “village”—friends, family, and his partner AJ—for giving him the motivation to fight through recovery. With the support of hundreds of loved ones rallying around him, Gregg set small, achievable goals that eventually led to an incredible milestone: getting back on skis the very same year he nearly died.
Today, Gregg channels his second chance at life into purpose-driven work through Gregg’s Village and ChipIn, initiatives dedicated to supporting nonprofits and building community through giving.
This powerful conversation explores resilience, mindset, gratitude, and the life-changing realization that the people around you can make all the difference when the unthinkable happens.