UPS Drivers Host Birthday Parade For A Co-Worker, William Torres, Who Recovered From COVID-19

William Torres had spent two months in the hospital

Parade held for William Torres who recovered from COVID

MIDLAND Texas – Essential workers like UPS delivery drivers helped millions get through the pandemic. In Midland, UPS honored one of its own this weekend, who nearly lost his life to COVID-19.

These UPS trucks, motorcycles, and decorated cars all lined up to wish a happy birthday to an old friend they say is one of a kind.

“He’s one that will light up a room when he walks in with just a smile.” “He’s one of those ones that you’ll never forget the way he comes in. He makes it known that he’s there. You know, smiles every day,” one of his co-workers Simon Sánchez said.

The team says they’ve been worried about a UPS driver, William Torres, after discovering how hard the virus had hit him.

The parade is the first time many have seen him since December and they had hoped the crew can put a smile on his face.

Torres said he was overjoyed to see so many old friends pay him a visit and show how much they love him. “Oh it was great,” Torres said. “Cause in the hospital I got to have one guest and my wife would go every day. But seeing a bunch of people is a totally different thing.”

It’s the support he can certainly use after he went through a difficult 64 days in the hospital after his diagnosis. He said doctors kept him in the ICU for part of that time when his lungs began to struggle.

“It was like you can’t breathe,” he said. “Like let me cover your mouth with my hand and leave you just a little opening for you to breathe.”

For a while, Torres thought the virus might kill him, but he got better and now he’s working every day to keep getting stronger so he can get back to 100%.

He wont be doing it alone.

“The UPS family, we stick together,” Sanchez said. “With everyone that showed up, it’s gladly appreciated. I know it made his day cause it was unexpected from where he was a couple of months ago to where he is now.”

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