Even though most people who contract COVID-19 recover well from the virus, for some the nightmare lasts well beyond the initial infection.
While seven people died from the coronavirus in the last week, before that one local family saw one of their own die from complications after a nine-month illness brought on by the coronavirus. Tim Gaffney, who contracted the virus in December, died on Sept. 4 after a lengthy illness brought on by his infection.
The virus led to Gaffney having several strokes, including one that led to the amputation of all the toes on his right foot. He remained in a nursing home for several months until his untimely death at age 69.
“Both of us tested positive for COVID on Dec. 8, 2020, and on Dec. 13 he started having trouble breathing, and that’s when we took him to Union General (Hospital),” said Tim Gaffney’s wife, Theresa Gaffney. “The knew upon arrival. They told us he had double pneumonia.”
She said Union General immediately began searching for more advanced care for her husband. However, their efforts were to no avail.
“All of the Atlanta area hospitals were full, and there were no receiving hospitals.” Theresa said. “They tried Chattanooga, Asheville, everywhere was full. Finally, on Tuesday, that’s when I believe he had the stroke.”
She said the strokes were caused by COVID-19 pneumonia pushing blood clots out of his lungs and elsewhere into his body.
“The blood clots caused the strokes in his brain,” Theresa said. “He had multiple strokes. One of the blood clots lodged in his right ankle and would not let go, Because of that, he lost the toes on his right foot.”
Theresa also said his heart was weakened by the strokes.
“He was in ICU for several weeks, and then finally they moved him to a regular room, but he was never able to come home,” Theresa said. “His disabilities were so severe that he needed round-the-clock care. At first, we were trying to do rehab, but he was just too weak, so he never made it home. The last day he was at the cabin was on Dec. 13.”
He died at the nursing home on Sept. 4 after having trouble breathing while watching the University of Miami Hurricanes play football on television. Paramedics responded, but they were unable to revive him.
“We masked. We tried to avoid crowds. We sanitized and washed our hands, but clearly we weren’t careful enough,” Theresa said. “It’s out there, and all it takes is one exposure.”
She wished more people in the community would take the virus seriously.
“The people who have truly done what they think is their own research – and have come to a decision not halfheartedly, but because they have some real reservations – I respect that, but I also think those people that I know, maybe they don’t think the vaccine is right for them, but they’re also not going around in crowds and stuff,” Theresa said.
“What’s disheartening is to this day is that it’ll be a very, very long time before I want to get in a crowd again, and I wear my mask everywhere. I don’t go anywhere I don’t have to go, not without good reason for needing to be there.”
She also shared some memories of her husband, who was an avid sailor, dog lover and classic automobile enthusiast. In 2018, the Gaffneys completed the Great Loop, circumnavigating the eastern half of the United States by boat.
“I am grateful that we had time to tell each other the things we wanted to say, forgive each other for any kind of stupid argument we ever had big or small,” Theresa said. ”We were able to say all the things, and if I have anything to say to other people it would be remember to live in today.
“It’s great to plan. We’re all about planning and having dreams, but it’s also important to live in the moment today and don’t take any day for granted, and just tell the people you love what you need to tell them. Be present in today, because tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us.”
While the Gaffneys were relatively new in the community, they were making a big difference here through volunteer work with the Murphy Rotary Club, among others.
From Sept. 14 through Monday afternoon, seven more local residents died from COVID-19, ranging in ages from the mid-40s to the late 80s. In that time, 208 residents total tested positive for the virus, 177 without a known source of transmission. At least 204 of those cases developed symptoms, two people have been hospitalized and all have been isolated.
Since the pandemic started through Monday, the health department has conducted 20,015 tests, 15,588 which were negative, Of the 4,337 positive tests, 4,023 have been released, 76 are deceased and 238 are active.
According to the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services, 57 percent of state residents ages 18 and older have been at least partially vaccinated as of Monday, while 52 percent have been fully vaccinated. There have been 10,986,852 total vaccine doses administered statewide so far.
The Cherokee County Health Department continues to offer vaccines at no charge for ages 12 and up at the office in Murphy.
Among those who have succumbed to the virus include Murphy High School band director Jason Dickert, who died in Asheville on Thursday evening after being ill since August. He was only 48.
Dickert led the Bulldogs Band for five years and worked in law enforcement prior to becoming director. A post on Cherokee County Schools Facebook page asked for continued prayers for Dickert’s family, friends and students. A moment of silence was held in his honor during Friday night’s football game.
“Mr. Jason Dickert was not just the MHS band director, but a role model,” read a passage from the post. “He showed compassion and caring to all MHS students, teachers, staff and community!”
On other campuses, Andrews Elementary School has gone to remote learning this week as a result of many teachers being out and not enough substitutes being available. And The Learning Center charter school in Murphy reported Friday that there was only one positive COVID test among students, though nine were in quarantine, and none among staff members.