A 20-year-old student died in her dorm room while under quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus
Bethany Nesbitt was found dead in a residence hall around 10 a.m. on Friday, Grace College confirmed in a statement.
Nesbitt, a third-year psychology major, tested positive, however, the virus was called a “contributing factor” in her death.
Her cause of death was ruled as pulmonary embolus, a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs is blocked by a blood clot, Kosciusko County Coroner Tony Ciriello told PEOPLE.
Ciriello said the pulmonary embolus had not been previously detected.
“While COVID did play a role in contributing to the death, it was not caused by COVID,” he added.
Nesbitt’s brother, Stephen Nesbitt, also tweeted that the Michigan native was asthmatic.
She reportedly began feeling symptoms on October 20 and tested for the virus on October 22, but the results were "never delivered, due to a clerical error," the family notes.
On October 26, she went to the emergency room after a “drop in her oxygen saturation.”
At this time, doctors said it was “very likely” that she had COVID, but they didn’t think it was a severe case because she was on the mend.
Nesbitt confirmed to her family that she was feeling better and was “fever-free” for 24 hours on October 28.
She took a COVID test again the following day and went to bed after watching Netflix.
The positive result was returned after her death on October 30, the outlet notes.
Nesbitt’s family started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to fund a memorial scholarship to give students with “similar dreams and financial needs.”
"She was a selfless and loving friend, a source of constant encouragement to all those around her," the fundraiser notes, adding, "She had a passion for helping others, especially children, and her sassy sense of humor and wonderful laugh put them at ease."
The family hopes Nesbitt’s story encourages others to “exercise enormous caution” as cases continue to rise rapidly.
"Please don't assume that young people will not be impacted by this virus," they said. "Bethany was careful. She wore a mask. She socially distanced. We urge you to follow health officials' protocols and precautions."
"The risk of gathering in large groups aren't worth it this year. There will be an empty seat at our table the next time our family comes together – and every time after that," the family explained, adding that losing Nesbitt is a “forever loss.”
Earlier this month, 18-year-old Austin Tanner passed away after contracting the virus.
The high school student was recovering at his home when his symptoms turned deadly on Tuesday, family members said.
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