A Nassau police officer is back on the mend after a long, difficult battle with the coronavirus.

Jim Viviani says he will never forget March 18 - the day he began his 21-day battle in the hospital with a severe cases of COVID-19.

"There was one night in particular I thought I was going to pass out and they were going to put me on a respirator, or I was actually thinking of telling them to put me on a respirator. That's how bad it was," says Viviani. "I know it's going to sound crazy but that's the night God helped me. And I got through it."

Viviani spent 17 of his 21 days in the hospital within the ICU. He said the doctors at Good Samaritan Hospital saved his life.

"They were just absolutely amazing and made you feel special and important every single day, they were absolutely amazing," he says.

Viviani says he got the virus on the jobs as a fire arms instruction for the Nassau Police Department. His wife Mary also tested positive, but had a far less severe case.

Mary Viviani says one day she had a healthy 51-year-old husband, and the next, she didn't know if she would ever see him again.

"You never know what's going to happen and every day is a blessing you're given," she says. "Because when I called the ambulance, I thought he was going to die."

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But now after the brutal battle - Jim Viviani has come out victorious.

"I will tell you after 30 years in law enforcement, you spend a lot of time on the street, rolling around with people and this was the fight for my life," he says.

Viviani says he expects to be back on the job next month.