In an open letter released by the Georgia Department of Education Tuesday, State School Superintendent Richard Woods shared his own experience with a breakthrough COVID-19 case. Woods, who had been vaccinated, said he tested positive for the virus prior to the start of the school year. His symptoms were severe, the superintendent said, and he ended up in the hospital. His doctors believe the vaccine helped keep him alive.

On Wednesday, Woods issued the following statement:

Lisha and I want to thank all for your prayers and well wishes during this journey in life. Fortunately, Lisha only had fairly mild symptoms and continues to get stronger each day.
I was hospitalized for almost 3 weeks with a severe case of the virus. It was tough as Lisha and I could not see each other and there were times we could not effectively communicate with each other. I have now been home for a week with the best nurse a person could ask for. Energy and oxygen levels with activity are the biggest issues; this seems to be a recovery issue with Covid. Yet, I continue to see improvement each day. I give God the glory as He was clearly with me and directly touched my body. I truly am a walking miracle. I look forward to visiting schools and hitting the campaign trail as soon as possible. Please continue to pray for a swift and full recovery. It is an honor to serve as your state school superintendent.
Woods said the experience is one he wouldn’t wish on anyone else and encouraged others to consult with their own doctors and consider getting vaccinated.