Dallas Nurse Nina Pham Declared "Ebola-Free" and Released

Aimee Herd : Oct 24, 2014
Liz Klimas – The Blaze

"I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today. I would first and foremost like to thank God, my family and friends." -Nina Pham

(Washington, DC)—Nina Pham, the first nurse to be diagnosed with the Ebola virus after she helped treat Thomas Eric Duncan in a Dallas hospital, was released from the National Institutes of Health on Friday, after being declared free of Ebola. (Photo via ABC News)

In a news conference, Nina thanked those who prayed for her, and especially Dr. Kent Brantly who had donated his plasma to aid in her treatment. Brantly was the first American to recover from the deadly disease and has since donated his blood to several other Ebola victims; all of whom have since recovered.

"I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today. I would first and foremost like to thank God, my family and friends," said Nina in her statement on Friday.

She added that she is praying for all who have Ebola, and especially her co-worker and fellow nurse Amber Vinson, who was being treated in Atlanta.

In a side note, Nina Pham's dog "Bentley"—a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who has been quarantined since Nina was diagnosed with Ebola—is reportedly "doing great" and has tested negative for the virus, though he will fulfill the required 21-day quarantine.