It was a welcome home and surprise of a lifetime for Canfield resident Jeff Fusco, who recently won his battle with the coronavirus.

After spending nearly eight weeks in multiple hospitals, and almost four weeks on a ventilator, Jeff couldn't wait to get home. For his family to see him after so long, and see him doing so well -they were at a loss of words. 

"I can't talk, let me tell you," said Joe Fusco, Jeff's father. "It's real hard, but I'm thrilled. I am thrilled. It's been a long hall, and thank God he's here. It truly was a miracle that he's here, and I mean it. Thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, and everybody."

Jeff's son Joey couldn't believe the sheer amount of people that showed up, filling up two parking lots at MCCTC, with open spaces between each vehicle. 

"It's kind of crazy because there are so many people that I don't even know here," Joey said. "They're all here to see my dad just because he's coming back, and that's crazy."

Jeff felt so good; he stepped out of his car briefly to hug his father and son, all while taking in such a welcoming surprise. 

"I'll tell you what, while I was sick, I felt prayers of many [people]," Jeff said. "But this totally blows me away. There are literally hundreds of people here who came out to welcome me home, and it's a life-changing event, as well as going through this illness. I'll tell you straight-up, it's a positive experience [this] whole thing. Even as sick as I was, it's given me stronger faith, more hope, and I'm planning on sharing that with as many people as I possibly can."

Jeff ended up at three hospital locations over the last seven-plus weeks. It started with Mercy Health locally, but he was flown by helicopter to Cleveland Clinic shortly after. Before moving to the Cleveland Clinic, Jeff received multiple blood transfusions. He says the care he received at all three locations was second to none and is why he's here today. 

"I actually got a little bit emotional on the way out of the hospital, just because of how well they treated me," he said. "[The] Cleveland Clinic, Mercy Hospitals - they all saved my life. But what really saved my life was a miracle."