Florida coronavirus patient went from diagnosis to dying in her daughter's arms in a matter of days

“The illness began with stomach symptoms, but Laurens' daughters soon noticed she was very weak and not making sense, Fereira said. Late Wednesday, July 1, her daughter brought her to the Memorial Hospital in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Fereira said. Due to virus precautions, his aunt could not stay at the hospital with Laurens, who had underlying conditions including diabetes and did not speak English.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, the hospital called the family to tell them Laurens had been diagnosed with coronavirus, Fereira said. On that hospital phone call, Laurens cried to her family that she was scared.

According to a medical document provided by Fereira, she was released around 3 a.m. on Thursday with instructions to pick up prescriptions and to call her doctor for a follow-up consultation in two days. But her family had no way to make contact with her directly, because she did not have a cellphone with her, and it was 6 a.m. before the hospital let them know she could be picked up, he said. The hospital system said it couldn't comment on Laurens' specific case but that admission decisions are based on a number of factors and the physician's assessment. That Thursday night, still feeling unwell, she was taken by her daughter to another Memorial Hospital Miramar location, Fereira said. She was again diagnosed with Covid-19 and prescribed new medications for her symptoms, according to documents provided by Fereira. Although documents from the hospital instructed her to schedule a follow-up visit around July 4, Fereira said medical offices were closed for the holiday and she got an appointment for early that week. But Laurens didn't make it to that day, Fereira said. Laurens' daughters cared for her over the weekend. She had a bad day Saturday, with fever, chills and body aches, but seemed to improve Sunday, Fereira said. Then Sunday night into Monday morning she developed pains in her chest, had a hard time breathing and was sweating profusely, Fereira's mother and aunt told him. Fereira says he woke up Monday morning to a 2 a.m. text from his father saying Laurens was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance with her daughters.

In his aunt's arms, Fereira's grandmother flatlined in the ambulance, he said. An EMT looked on, frozen, and his aunt told Fereira that she had to shake him out of it. "It just goes to show, everybody is afraid," he said. Medical personnel attempted to revive her at the hospital, but she did not make it, Fereira said. Fereira lives close to the Pembroke hospital his grandmother was rushed to in her last moments, and he said he relives her death every day.

"I hear ambulances going to that hospital once every one to two hours," he said. "The thought of it, that my mom had to see my poor grandmother in an ambulance strapped up to life saving devices ... it's so fresh." And the same days he hears ambulances bringing more patients to the hospital in the state with surging cases, Fereira said he is frustrated to see people going about without masks as if nothing were different.”

Absolutely frightening. Seniors should have cellphones. Make sure that they do...for their safety. RXs are only to attempt to treat symptoms. Watch the affected patients, even if it's all night. Fogginess is a sign!!!! O2 levels must be monitored. Trouble breathing is an ER visit. If you care for a senior do not leave them if they are sick....God, this is so sad. If she'd had someone with her...