Stephen A. Smith talks about his COVID battle: “I had a 103-degree fever…

Stephen A. Smith talks about his COVID battle: “I had a 103-degree fever every night… I awoke with a shiver and a pool of sweat.”

Stephen A Smith returned to “First Take” on Monday for the first time since announcing that he had tested positive for COVID at the end of December. Upon his return, he shared with viewers what it was like to face the infection on his own.

“I had a 103-degree temperature every night,” Stephen stated on the show, describing his condition. I awoke with shivers and a pool of sweat on my brow. The headaches were unbearable. I’m coughing a lot. And it got to the point where I was in the hospital shortly before New Year’s Eve and stayed until New Year’s Day. That was my way of ringing in the New Year.”

He went on to say that he was able to recover from his symptoms since he had been vaccinated. “They told me I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been vaccinated. He answered, “That’s how horrible it was.” Stephen revealed that his liver had become infected, and he had pneumonia in both lungs.

“It had devastated me to the point where I still have to keep track of my volume, go to the gym every day, and walk before running.” Work your way backwards because my lungs are still not 100%, but I’m COVID negative. “I’m on the mend,” he said at the end.

“And they told me had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be here. That’s how bad I was.”

— ESPN’s @stephenasmith details his recent, nearly fatal battle with COVID pic.twitter.com/jtkZV62RIA

— The Recount (@therecount) January 18, 2022

Prior to catching the virus, Stephen had expressed his concerns about being vaccinated as the controversy about the vaccine’s efficacy continued to rage within the sports community.

“Let me get this straight….,” Stephen stated after it was announced that Kyrie Irving would not be able to train or play with his team due to his immunization status [which has since been modified]. So you’re not worried about getting the vaccine?

Your view is that you’re going to sit up there and jeopardize the championship hopes of a company you signed on to represent – you convinced Kevin Durant to sign on to represent, you helped James Harden sign on to represent? You’re willing to give up everything in order to give the voiceless a voice? Really?”