‘Here I am going back to work after COVID-19’: Tacoma surgeon opens up about his battle

TACOMA, Wash. — A local surgeon who had COVID-19 is more determined to help patients after his battle.

Dr. Prakash Gatta, an esophageal robotics surgeon for Multicare Health System in Tacoma said he started documenting what life was like in the operating room before finding out he tested positive for the coronavirus.

“I didn’t think I would have COVID. Why? Because, you know, I never get sick. What I see in [the] world and in my patients, can’t possibly happen to me,” Gatta said.

Gatta’s symptoms were mild compared to most, but he said the virus is powerful and one month later, he’s still recovering.

“Lots of body aches and the fatigue persists to this day. I lost like 12 pounds in just that one week,” Gatta said.

Yet, the first thing Gatta did when he got the OK from officials? He went right back to the hospital: “Here I am back to work after COVID-19.”

As a surgeon during a pandemic, he said it’s his calling to be there, and now he feels there’s less reason to worry.

“When you’re on the other side of this, you’re going to have a lot less anxiety, a lot less fear and you’ll feel like you’re invincible because you can deal with this crisis without anybody having to worry,” Gatta said.

“For the people with fear, know that no matter what happens, we never work from home. The lights are always on. Babies are being born. Bones are being set. This hospital, this profession, we’re in a league of our own. We’ll take care of you.”

As for how Gatta contracted the virus, he said he still has no answers, and no agency has reached out to him about contact tracing, including the CDC.

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