Riverside Academy students got a big surprise Monday morning when they returned to campus following two weeks of virtual learning.

Principal Mike Coburn, who had not been on campus since August, was in the front of school greeting students and faculty members just like he used to.

“Tremendous,” Coburn said about his first day back. “God is so good. I feel good. I’m so excited to be here for the kids. I wish I could hug them all.”

Coburn, who has served as principal at RA since December of 2016, was diagnosed with Covid-19 in August, just before the start of the school year. He spent 62 days in the hospital, 25 of those in the Intensive Care Unit. Coburn said he was just minutes away from being put on a ventilator, but told his doctor that he only wanted to be intubated as a last resort.