--- description: Ebola survivor and NBC freelancer Ashoka Mukpo says "today is a joyful day," in a statement he released Wednesday about his recovery. Mukpo, who was... title: Ebola Survivor, NBC freelancer, Ashoka Mukpo Speaks Out image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt86ff2baf5711da8c/698762453c163937a344f379/ashoka-mukpo2.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [ebola](/tag/ebola/) ## ebola Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Ebola Survivor Speaks Out: 'Blessed to Be Alive' by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 22, 2014 5:45 PM CUT  American video journalist Ashoka Mukpo at an iron ore mining camp in Bong County, Liberia in Aug. 2013 American video journalist Ashoka Mukpo at an iron ore mining camp in Bong County, Liberia in Aug. 2013Philip Marcelo—AP by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 22, 2014 5:45 PM CUT Ebola survivor and NBC freelancer Ashoka Mukpo says “today is a joyful day,” in a [statement](http://m.livewellnebraska.com/ebola/ashoka-mukpo-s-statement-after-release-from-nebraska-medical-center/article%5F902b7192-5a05-11e4-97ba-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm "undefined") he released Wednesday about his recovery. Mukpo, who was infected with Ebola while working in Liberia, was evacuated to Nebraska Medical Center for treatment. “I owe this staff a debt I can’t ever repay,” said Mukpo in a statement. The fact that Mukpo was able to be treated in America is a circumstance that weighs on him, he writes: “I feel profoundly blessed to be alive, and in the same breath aware of the global inequalities that allowed me to be flown to an American hospital when so many Liberians die alone with minimal care.” He thanked everyone from the United States State Department, to Doctors Without Borders to NBC. He paid a special thanks to fellow [survivor](http://time.com/3270016/ebola-survivor-kent-brantly/ "undefined") Dr. Kent Brantly, who [donated](http://time.com/3481314/kent-brantly-ashoka-mukpo-blood/ "undefined") blood to Mukpo. “May his health flourish and his compassion be known to all,” said Mukpo. Mukpo was declared free of Ebola and released from the hospital on Oct. 21\. It’s unclear how exactly he was infected with the disease. Mukpo says he plans to discuss his experience in writing, and will talk to media, but for now he is spending time with his family and asks for privacy. You can read his full statement [here](http://m.livewellnebraska.com/ebola/ashoka-mukpo-s-statement-after-release-from-nebraska-medical-center/article%5F902b7192-5a05-11e4-97ba-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm "undefined"). ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3531879/ebola-survivor-nbc-freelancer-ashoka-mukpo-doctors-without-borders/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3531879/ebola-survivor-nbc-freelancer-ashoka-mukpo-doctors-without-borders/"},"headline":"Ebola Survivor Speaks Out: 'Blessed to Be Alive'","datePublished":"2014-10-22T17:45:02.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T10:57:01.501Z","description":"Ebola survivor and NBC freelancer Ashoka Mukpo says \"today is a joyful day,\" in a statement he released Wednesday about his recovery. 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