With a click of the camera, Douglas Clifford captures history in the making as a photographer for the Tampa Bay Times, a Florida newspaper.

“It’s a privilege to do what I do because I have the opportunity to be a journeyman for the community. I can go out and gather information, says Doug.”

Now, he’s more passionate than ever, back on the job after more than a month and this assignment is covering a park affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I exhibited coronavirus symptoms in late March. I had several weeks of making pictures as the virus was starting to spread across into North America, says Doug.”

Because of the risks associated with Doug’s career, his doctor ordered a coronavirus test. Sure enough, he tested positive. During Doug’s recovery, he not only focused on getting back on the job but also making a difference.

After fully recovering from COVID-19, Doug became a convalescent plasma donor, he says, “I felt like this is the next layer of how I can help. If there is even one person that can recover and I can just give a little bit of something from inside my body and it can help them turn around. I mean that’s my obligation, that’s my duty. I have to do it.”

Doug says this is an experience he will never forget.

“I thought it was really great that there was a community network in place that helped guide me into this donation because it was about communication with my doctor and with OneBlood about how we all came together and created this opportunity to get this possibly lifesaving plasma out of my body and now it’s out there.”

And now, Doug is back out there too and it’s a story he wouldn’t change.

“The fact that I didn’t get too sick to come back and do this job again is really the important part to me. I know there are risks in being out and getting the stories right now, but I really think my privilege and opportunity to do that supersedes the risks.”

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