--- title: This Local Survivor of Long COVID—Why His Story Is Important description: In an effort to bring awareness to the importance of vaccination, UAB and Acclinate teamed up for a campaign called Voices to Vaxx to share real COVID stories from the community. image: https://news.acclinate.com/hubfs/Ricky-Covid-Survivor.jpg --- [![Acclinate Logo](https://news.acclinate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Acclinate-logo.png?width=2000&height=497&name=Acclinate-logo.png "Acclinate Logo")](https://www.acclinate.com/) - Products - [NOWINCLUDED](https://www.acclinate.com/products/nowincluded-the-community) - [eDICT](https://www.acclinate.com/products/e-dict) - Solutions - [Pharmaceutical Companies](https://www.acclinate.com/solutions/for-pharmaceutical-companies) - [Contract Research Organizations](https://www.acclinate.com/solutions/for-cros) - [Partners](https://www.acclinate.com/solutions/community-partners) - Company - [About Us](https://www.acclinate.com/about) - [Careers](https://www.acclinate.com/careers) - [News](https://news.acclinate.com) - Resources - [Resource Library](https://www.acclinate.com/resources) - [Blog](https://blog.acclinate.com) - [Press Kit](https://www.acclinate.com/press-kit) - [Events](https://www.acclinate.com/events) - [Glossary](https://www.acclinate.com/glossary) - [FAQ](https://www.acclinate.com/faq) - [Talk to Our Team](https://info.acclinate.com/get-in-touch) [![Talk to Our Team](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/19943632/2e1c34dc-aaa1-43b8-b5f4-469b0db4e302.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/19943632/2e1c34dc-aaa1-43b8-b5f4-469b0db4e302) [![Acclinate Logo](https://news.acclinate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Acclinate_Logo.png?width=500&height=149&name=Acclinate_Logo.png "Acclinate Logo")](https://www.acclinate.com/) - Products - [**NOWINCLUDED**Acclinate’s B2C community platform ](https://www.acclinate.com/products/nowincluded-the-community) - [**e-DICT**Acclinate’s patented AI-powered technology ](https://www.acclinate.com/products/e-dict) - Solutions - [**Pharmaceutical Companies**Community-driven recruitment and real-world insights to support diverse, compliant clinical trials. ](https://www.acclinate.com/solutions/for-pharmaceutical-companies) - [**Contract Research Organization (CRO)**Scalable patient engagement and recruitment solutions that reduce risk and improve enrollment timelines. ](https://www.acclinate.com/solutions/for-cros) - [**Partners**Trusted partnerships that connect research opportunities with the communities they aim to serve. ](https://www.acclinate.com/solutions/community-partners) - Company - [**About us**We help clinical research teams reach diverse communities, build trust, and improve trial participation. ](https://www.acclinate.com/about) - [**Careers**Join a mission-driven team advancing inclusive clinical research and community-powered health innovation. ](https://www.acclinate.com/careers) - Resources - [**Resources Hub** ](https://www.acclinate.com/resources) - [**Glossary** ](https://www.acclinate.com/glossary) - [**Press Kit** ](https://www.acclinate.com/press-kit) - [**Events** ](https://www.acclinate.com/events) - [**Blog** ](https://blog.acclinate.com/) - [**News** ](https://news.acclinate.com/) - [![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/695fbca039298e2117988a78/69e7b588548c7ad7bd8ab0bc_9dd915489696393dc63d7785ee2e52c7_Question%20mark%20image.png) **FAQs** ](https://www.acclinate.com/faq) - [ Contact Us ](https://www.acclinate.com/contact-us)   ## Community Engagement Stay updated on our latest company milestones, research publications, and the community engagement events that are continuously building authentic trust nationwide. [![Get the Press Kit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/19943632/16a8815b-a5bf-4ea5-ad35-b68efdee0793.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/19943632/16a8815b-a5bf-4ea5-ad35-b68efdee0793) Topics - [All](https://blog.acclinate.com/news) - [Acclinate ](https://news.acclinate.com/tag/acclinate) - [Awards ](https://news.acclinate.com/tag/awards) - [Community ](https://news.acclinate.com/tag/community) - [Diversity in Clinical Trials ](https://news.acclinate.com/tag/diversity-in-clinical-trials) - [Partnerships ](https://news.acclinate.com/tag/partnerships) - [Community](https://news.acclinate.com/topic/community) # This Local Survivor of Long COVID—Why His Story Is Important By PATIENCE ITSON September 19, 2023 ![Ricky Crenshaw](https://news.acclinate.com/hubfs/Ricky-Covid-Survivor.jpg) Clinical Trial Diversity: What Does It Really Mean? Clinical trials are critical for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and pharmaceutical products. The results of trials guide t... Read More https://bhamnow.com/2023/09/18/this-local-survived-long-covid-heres-why-his-story-is-important/ ![ PATIENCE ITSON](https://news.acclinate.com/hubfs/Acclinate/avatar-1577909_1280.webp) **Share this Article:** [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://news.acclinate.com/this-local-survivor-of-long-covid-why-his-story-is-important) [**](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://news.acclinate.com/this-local-survivor-of-long-covid-why-his-story-is-important) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://news.acclinate.com/this-local-survivor-of-long-covid-why-his-story-is-important&title=This%20Local%20Survivor%20of%20Long%20COVID—Why%20His%20Story%20Is%20Important) Media: Find useful resources, including mission, fast facts, media downloads and more. [Get the Press Kit ](https://www.acclinate.com/press-kit) Interested in talking with Acclinate? [ Get in Touch ](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIc6osXmKBv%2F%2FrWjVS5gpUHDx5BOvMnmTdh5N3JPqohgv4ro6XOk%2FRcpot8FI%2BG08%2B5aJ5MAt3kXAjzJ1eIgpjMdTxwe3P2DKSxLBnF9IvQvSweIh3OFR2Gpe5HC4YsFvSWe8MHjegsnfFJPvRobuSvbznUJ1nlWHHQAg0Z%2FuUUg%2FKMrv4AY6%2BLav8%3D&webInteractiveContentId=182419560361&portalId=19943632) You’ve heard of Long COVID, but what is it really like? In an effort to bring awareness to the importance of vaccination, UAB and [Acclinate](https://www.acclinate.com/) teamed up for a campaign called Voices to Vaxx to share real COVID stories from the community. Ricky Crenshaw, an Alabama native and Long COVID survivor, chose to be included. Here’s why. ## **Ricky’s Long COVID story** Meet Ricky Crenshaw—a 62-year-old Alabama native who’s retired from construction and the ministry, who’s married and has two sons and a granddaughter, and who always loved riding horses and motorcycles. Ricky’s once-active life came to an abrupt pause when he was diagnosed with Long COVID in February 2022. While visiting his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Pennsylvania, Ricky became increasingly ill. An ambulance rushed Ricky, with an oxygen level of 23%, to the hospital. After finding out that he had the Delta strain of COVID, they called Ricky’s wife Stacy and told her her husband might not make it. This led to the biggest battle of his life. Ricky spent 35 days in a medically-induced coma in the critical care unit. When his oxygen levels were deemed safe, he was moved to a step-down recovery unit for 30 days. He was in the hospital for a total of 82 days before being allowed to finally return home to Alabama. But this was only the beginning. Shortly after returning home, Ricky began experiencing major health problems. His ability to breathe began to rapidly decline and his short-term memory became nearly nonexistent due to a COVID brain fog. He also lost his ability to walk. Ricky also experienced: - Loss of taste and smell - Inability to eat - Numbness in his right cheek - A tracheotomy that left him with vocal cord paralysis ## Gaining hope through UAB-Acclinate partnership through CEAL COVID-19’s[ disproportionate impact on Birmingham’s Black community](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7988507/)—along with general distrust in the US healthcare system—left many with a tough decision: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. This is where the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) and Birmingham-based healthcare technology company Acclinate stepped in, with a goal of building affective (emotional) trust with the Black community and other communities of color so they can make informed decisions about their health. Acclinate uses its digital platform called NOWINCLUDED to provide people of color with an opportunity to: - Access health resources - Share personal health stories - Learn about clinical research In addition to the partnership with MHERC, Acclinate also partnered with [the National Institutes of Health](https://sites.uab.edu/ceal/about/) (NIH) to make an even bigger impact. Through the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL), Acclinate and UAB became a part of teams from across the US that share accurate information about COVID-19 and ways to manage the disease.  In February 2023, Ricky heard about a focus group being hosted by UAB and decided to get involved by sharing his COVID story and helping bring awareness to the importance of vaccination, especially to those in Birmingham’s underserved communities. ## Long COVID tips Today, Ricky continues to struggle with Long COVID symptoms, but focusing on things like having a healthy diet and surrounding himself with family and prayer helps. We asked Ricky if he had any tips for others. Here’s what he said: - If you have COVID symptoms, don’t panic. First, see your doctor and get as much information as you can.  - Utilize the internet to find out information about Long COVID. This will help you figure out ways to address symptoms and hopefully eliminate them.  - Don’t wait for [symptoms] to get so bad they can’t be treated. - Talk to your doctor, share information with your family and friends that may have long COVID or who have never had COVID at all. The more they know, the more informed they’ll be and the better chance they’ll have of addressing it.  **Follow NOWINCLUDED on **[**Instagram**](https://www.instagram.com/acclinate_inc/?hl=en)** to stay up to date on events and resources for your health and follow Acclinate on **[**LinkedIn**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/acclinateinc/)** to learn more about their work to bring health equity through inclusive research.** [https://bhamnow.com/2023/09/18/this-local-survived-long-covid-heres-why-his-story-is-important/](https://bhamnow.com/2023/09/18/this-local-survived-long-covid-heres-why-his-story-is-important/) [![Acclinate, HCN Global Partner to Expand Hispanic & Latino Clinical Research Access](https://news.acclinate.com/hubfs/acclinate-hcn-global_(1).webp) September 19, 2023 ## Acclinate, HCN Global Partner to Expand Hispanic & Latino Clinical Research Access Read More ](https://news.acclinate.com/hispanic-clinical-research-access-acclinate-hcn-global) [![International Clinical Trials Day Renews Focus on Representation in Medical Research](https://news.acclinate.com/hubfs/acclinate-img.webp) September 19, 2023 ## International Clinical Trials Day Renews Focus on Representation in Medical Research Read More ](https://www.prlog.org/13147128-international-clinical-trials-day-renews-focus-on-representation-in-medical-research.html) [![Acclinate Releases 2025 Annual Impact Report Highlighting Community-Led Progress in Health Equity](https://news.acclinate.com/hubfs/acclinate-award.jpg) September 19, 2023 ## Acclinate Releases 2025 Annual Impact Report Highlighting Community-Led Progress in Health Equity Read More ](https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2023/08/first-ever-black-maternal-health-expo-coming-to-birmingham/) ![Woman wearing Acclinate Shirt](https://news.acclinate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/layer1_image.webp?width=1600&height=1068&name=layer1_image.webp) ![Medical Research Software e-DICT](https://news.acclinate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/layer2_image.webp?width=885&height=885&name=layer2_image.webp) ![layer2.2_image](https://news.acclinate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/layer2.2_image.webp?width=1505&height=1197&name=layer2.2_image.webp) ![layer3_image](https://news.acclinate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/layer3_image.webp?width=1600&height=1067&name=layer3_image.webp) ## Ready to Measure Your True Impact? 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