A brave six-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis has defied the odds and beaten coronavirus.
Joseph Bostain, from Tennessee, US, was diagnosed with the deadly bug on March 19 after he fell ill with a fever and cough.
But despite his condition, which means he is immunocompromised and has a reduced ability to fight infections, the youngster has now made a full recovery.
In a beaming video on Facebook, he describes himself as a warrior and thanks family and friends for sending him cards, gifts, and well-wishes as he battled the flu-like virus.
“Thank you for all the cards and the prayers and the gifts,” he said.
“I’m a cystic fibrosis warrior and I beat Covid-19.”
Joseph, from Clarksville, was rushed to Monroe Caroll Jr Children’s hospital after he started showing coronavirus symptoms.
On March 19, his mother Sabrina wrote on Facebook that he had tested positive and asked friends and relatives to keep her son in their prayers.
She wrote: “Okay so I got the confirmed call from Vanderbilt today that Joseph is positive for COVID19! He has had fever and cough and is tired!
“He is immune compromised from his Cystic Fibrosis! Just say some prayers!”
After his diagnosis, Joseph had to endure two weeks of quarantine in his home.
In an update on March 21, Sabrina posted that although her young son was still coughing, he no longer had a fever or sore throat and had woken up smiling.
She said: “Joseph had a better night than the one before. He still coughing really bad but no fever and no sore throat!
“He woke up smiling and ready to take on the day as usual! He is currently drawing and writing messages to his friends! Prayers are working! Thank you for all of the out pouring live and support! Stay well!!”
He took a turn for the worse on March 23, when Sabrina wrote that he had “flushed cheeks” and that his fever had re-emerged.
But thankfully, he was fever free by the next day.
During his illness, the youngster and his family were inundated with support from caring members of their community who were keen to boost his spirits.
On March 22, Sabrina took to Facebook to thank Joseph’s classmates at East Montgomery Elementary school after they paraded outside his home and dropped off a collection of cards and balloons.
She wrote: “Oh my gracious!! Thank you East Montgomery Elementary friends and family for your beautiful parade by our home for Joseph!
“Thank u for the cards and balloons and the outpouring of love!! He is reading his cards out loud and having a heartfelt moment!!”
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system.
Symptoms usually begin in early childhood and although they vary, the condition gets progressively worse over time with the lungs and digestive system becoming increasingly damaged, according to the NHS.
The US is now seeing more than 20,000 new confirmed cases of coronavirus each day.
A total of 277,467 people have been infected, and 7,402 people have lost their lives to the disease.
