Although some families may struggle with counting their blessings on Thanksgiving Day 2020, one Rutherford County family is filled with an abundance of gratitude after recovering from COVID-19.
Since late October, Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed and her family battled the deadly coronavirus: husband, Britt Reed, son, Parker Bell and his girlfriend, Taylor Dietz, and her parents, Esther and Kenneth “Coon” Victory.
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“We are telling our story because we hope it might help each of you understand how scary this virus is,” Reed said.
Although everyone in Reed’s family has been healthy and active, each faced a very different battle with COVID-19.
They all followed guidelines and recommendations from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, like social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands often. But the virus still hit their family.
“We felt like this virus would touch one or all of us at some point, but we did not expect it to be all of us at the same time or the range of severity and symptoms we each experienced,” Reed said. “I don’t wish this virus on anyone.”
COVID-19 symptoms varied
Initially everyone experienced mild symptoms in the first few days of contracting the virus.
Reed’s son, Parker Bell, and husband, Britt Reed, never experienced much more than mild cold-like issues.
“As the virus progressed, the rest of us experienced more severe symptoms,” Reed said. “Daddy struggled with a severe cough and sinus issues. Taylor experienced flu-like symptoms and was extremely fatigued. Momma and I have never felt as sick as we did throughout this experience.”
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Reed said they were all worried about each other, but their primary concern was her mother, Esther Victory. The effect of COVID-19 on the grandmother had her in and out of StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna.
Nobody was allowed to visit Esther in person, not even her husband, Coon Victory, although the family kept in touch through text and limited phone conversations.
“My parents truly do not spend time apart, so this was particularly difficult for Daddy,” Reed said. “We were all comforted by the knowledge that StoneCrest Medical Center was where my mother needed to be and that she was receiving the compassionate care she needed to recover.”
In their stead, Reed said the staff took great “emotional care” of her mother.
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“None of us would want to be hospitalized without connection to the outside world. The staff — doctors, nurses, techs, environmental services — took time to talk to my mom, not just about her treatment, but developed personal relationships with her,” Reed said. “This was absolutely critical in making my mom feel comfortable and able to focus on her recovery.”
Reed said the hospital also kept open lines of communication with the family. They could call and check on her at any time.
Aftermath still shocking
Now that everyone in Reed’s family is at home recovering, looking back it’s still hard to comprehend the shock of getting COVID-19.
“Because our experiences were different, our level of fear is different. We all understand the severity and the complexity of this virus. But my mother and I do have a greater fear of catching this again because we were so sick,” Reed said.
In September, the virus hit Reed’s sister and brother-in-law, Leigh Ann and Tim Slate. They were able to help Reed and her immediate family during the ordeal.
A tight-knit family and “great support system” were vital in managing the virus’ impact. So Reed encourages people to “connect with those that may need a helping hand as they quarantine and work to recover.”
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“Regardless of the nature of the symptoms, individuals impacted need to have someone that can help you with errands and daily tasks that those in quarantine cannot do for themselves,” Reed said. “I always talk about neighbor helping neighbor because that is what our community is all about.”
So far over 334,000 in Tennessee have contracted COVID-19, causing more than 4,200 deaths.
“This virus has changed each person in our family and made us appreciate each other more. Life is short. Let those in your life know how much you love them. Please keep you and your family safe,” Reed said.
Virus timeline
Here’s a timeline of how COVID-19 moved through Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed’s family:
• Oct. 25: Coon Victory began to have symptoms of COVID and began to quarantine, along with wife Esther.
• Oct. 27: Coon tested; both he and Esther continued to quarantine.
• Oct. 29: Coon received positive test results and became very sick with sinus symptoms, fatigue, cough, sore throat, and fever.
• Oct. 31: Esther began to show mild symptoms.
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• Nov 1: Taylor Dietz, girlfriend of the Victorys’ grandson, started showing symptoms and began to quarantine. Symptoms included sinus, nausea, aching, cough, but she never lost her sense of taste and smell.
• Nov. 3: On the evening of Election Day, Mary Esther began to experience symptoms.
• Nov. 4: Mary Esther tested for COVID; Britt, Mary Esther, and son Parker Bell began quarantine. Taylor tested positive.
• Nov 4: Esther’s symptoms became severe: Her oxygen levels dropped significantly and she was taken to StoneCrest Medical Center’s Emergency Department. She was tested for COVID and the results were positive; spent two days in ICU.
• Nov. 5: Parker tested positive, and experienced fatigue, sinus issues and a cough.
• Nov. 6: Mary Esther’s test results are positive and continued quarantine with Britt and Parker.
• Nov. 3-7: Other than a cough and slight fever, Mary Esther felt fine and continued her daily 5-mile walk.
• Nov 8: Esther’s oxygen levels dropped significantly again; readmitted to ICU for 11 days.
• Nov. 8: Mary Esther’s health began to rapidly decline and experienced sinus issues, fever, extreme exhaustion, nausea and light-headedness, along with losing taste and smell.
• Nov 9: Britt’s tested for COVID and received positive results two days later.
• Nov. 8-19: Esther continued to struggle at StoneCrest. She was never placed on a ventilator, but was given Remdesivir as well as antibodies from recovered COVID patients.
• Nov 16: Mary Esther returns to work for a few hours, but still struggles with an intense cough and exhaustion.
• Nov. 19: Britt returned to work. Esther is able to leave hospital, but remains on oxygen at home.
Currently Coon tires easily and has to rest. Taylor and Parker are both back at work. Taylor feels better, but Parker is still fatigued by the time he gets home.
Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @NanDeGennaro.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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