A man who survived life-threatening surgery from a rare condition when he was a baby just recovered from COVID-19, and is now making it his mission to give back.

After starting with a few days of aches, Adam Lilling knew soon after that he was in trouble.

"I couldn't walk more than a few steps without having large coughing fits," says Lilling.

The Roslyn father ended up in the emergency room at North Shore University Hospital on his 40th birthday with a case of the coronavirus.

But six days later, Lilling was released and returned home to his family.

"They are amazing - the doctors and the nurses were amazing, they got me home to my family and I want to do anything I can to help them," says Lilling.

TIMELINE: Key COVID-19 events since late February 

And Lilling is already putting that plan into motion by setting up a fundraiser to help the doctors and nurses at Northwell who kept him alive.

The fundraiser is called The Roslyn Dads, and it has raised more than $10,000 to purchase protective gear for medical staff. Lilling's family also has a foundation for neonatal research.

Lilling says he is extremely grateful for those medical professionals who saved his life not once, but twice.

"I'm really the luckiest guy in the whole world," he says.