Family speaks out after mother's COVID-19 death

The family of a Fayetteville woman who died after contracting COVID-19 at a nursing home is speaking out. Employees told WRAL news that the facility is not doing enough to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Posted 12/27/2021, 11:12:10 PM

A SPOKESWOMAN FOR GOVERNOR

COOPER'S OFFICE SAID MORE

DETAILS ABOUT SUPPLY AND

DISTRIBUTION PLANS SHOULD BE

AVAILABLE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

>>> EVERY TUESDAY THE HEALTH

DEPARTMENT LEASES COVID 19

NUMBERS THE LIST OUTBREAK AT

FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

LAST WEEK THE CAROLINA REHAB

CENTER IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY

REPORTED 87 CASES AMONG

RESIDENTS AND STAFF.

TWO RESIDENTS DIED.

WE SPOKE WITH THE DAUGHTER AND

GRANDSON WHO CAN'T BELIEVE HOW

QUICKLY SHE SUCCUMBED TO THE

VIRUS.

>> Reporter: WE GOT THOSE

NUMBERS LAST WEEK AND THE STATE

WILL PUT OUT THE NUMBERS

TOMORROW AND THOSE NUMBERS MAY

CHANGE.

THE THING THAT WON'T CHANGE IS

AT LEAST TWO FAMILIES AND MAYBE

MORE HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES

TO COVID-19 AND THEY STATE THEY

GOT IT HERE AT CAROLINA REHAB

CENTER IN FAYETTEVILLE.

>> THAT MORNING PHONE CALL AT

5:30 IN THE MORNING., AT A

DECENT TIME.

GINA, WAKE UP.

>> Reporter: MEDICAL CONDITIONS

PREVENTED GINA FROM VISITING

HER MOTHER.

SHE HOOKED UP AND ALEXIS DEVICE

TO TALK DIRECTLY TO HER MOTHER.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO HER MOTHER

CALLED AND WAS HAVING A

DIFFICULT TIME BREATHING.

THEN THE SHOCKING PHONE CALL

FROM A NURSE AT THE CENTER.

>> SHE SAID I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T

TELL YOU.

WE'VE BEEN SO BUSY.

HER EXACT WORDS WERE COVID IS

POPPING UP EVERYWHERE.

>> Reporter: HILL WAS ONE OF

TWO RESIDENTS AT THE REHAB

CENTER WHO DIED FROM

COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH

THE VIRUS.

>> SHE HAD THE SOFTEST HANDS.

>> Reporter: HE WAS ONE OF THE

LAST FAMILY MEMBERS TO SEE HIS

GRANDMOTHER ALIVE.

HE WOULD VISIT HER OFTEN EVEN

THOUGH THE STAFF TOLD HIM TO

VISIT AT HIS OWN RISK.

WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR

HEAD KNOWING THAT COVID WAS ALL

AROUND YOU?

>> I FELT BAD.

>> Reporter: NOW A FAMILY

PLANNING CREATIVE WAYS TO

CONNECT WITH THEIR LOVED ONES

AT THE REHAB CENTER DURING THE

HOLIDAYS IS PLANNING A FUNERAL

AND HOLDING ONTO MEMORIES.

>> WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST

ABOUT YOUR MOTHER?

>> EVERY MORNING I'M STILL

SAYING ALEXA CALL HER.

I KNOW SHE WON'T ANSWER.

>> Reporter: THE SAD PART OF

THIS STORY FOR ANYONE WHO HAS

LOST A LOVED ONE IS THE FACT

YOU CAN'T BE WITH THAT PERSON

BEFORE THIS PASSED AWAY.

I REACHED OUT TO THE PARENT

COMPANY LOCATED IN ROANOKE,

VIRGINIA TO ASK IF THE NUMBERS

HAVE CHANGED AND WHAT ARE THEY

DOING TO STOP THE SPREAD WITHIN