An Alabama man died after being turned away from scores of packed hospitals across three states, his family said.
After having a heart attack, 73-year-old Ray DeMonia needed hospital care. Relatives said they contacted at least 43 hospitals, none of which had an available ICU bed.
The closest hospital with availability was more than 200 miles away in Mississippi. So DeMonia was transferred there, and his family made the long journey back and forth from Alabama to Mississippi several times to see him.
But just three days before his 74th birthday, Ray DeMonia died Sept. 1.
More than half of the patients hospitalized in Alabama are fighting COVID-19, the Alabama Hospital Association said.
“I can’t predict what’s going to happen tomorrow, but we’re certainly not rending in the right direction,” said Danne Howard, the association’s deputy director. “We’re not throwing in the towel, but it is a dire and serious situation.”
Several days last week, Alabama reported having nearly 50-100 more ICU patients than beds available. As of Sunday, roughly 2,800 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19, the Washington Post reported. About 770 of those are in the ICU.
DeMonia’s family urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, encouraging people to protect themselves against the serious illness that has consumed hospitals. An estimated 40% of the state is fully vaccinated, the Post said.
DeMonia’s family said he was vaccinated.
“He knew what the vaccine meant for his health and what it meant to staying alive,” his daughter told the Post. “He said, ‘I just want to get back to shaking hands with people, selling stuff and talking antiques.’ ”
“In honor of Ray, please get vaccinated if you have not, in an effort to free up resources for non-COVID-related emergencies,” his online obituary reads. “He would not want any other family to go through what his did.”
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