“The cost was his life”

It’s a surprising start to an obituary announcing the death of Candace Cay Ayers from complications from a severe COVID-19.

“She was preceded in death by more than 4,531,799 other people infected with covid-19. She was vaccinated but was infected by others who chose not to be. The cost was his life, ”we read.

The Springfield, Ill. Mother was 66 and received her second injection of the Moderna vaccine in March, her son Marc Ayers said.

But the family believe they caught the infection in July after visiting an unvaccinated friend in Mississippi. Her condition rapidly deteriorated and she died on September 3, three weeks after being placed on a ventilator.

“Mum was a fighter… and mum was so angry with people who weren’t getting vaccinated and wearing masks,” Marc Ayers, 36, said TODAY.

“Mom spoke very loudly about people who just refused to take these precautions so we thought it was a good idea to put that in the obituary and make a statement.”

Her sister, Amanda, wrote the obituary, with the family hoping it would inspire people to get vaccinated and to continue taking precautions as COVID-19 cases increase.

“We did everything we were advised to do”

Candace Ayers was relieved to have been fully immunized this spring as she suffered from a pre-existing condition, rheumatoid arthritis, and was already immunocompromised, her son said.

The whole family, including her 68-year-old husband, Terry, and their two grown children were beaten at the same time. They continued to avoid eating inside restaurants and continued to wear masks when shopping, recalls Marc Ayers.

“We did everything we were advised to do,” he said.

“We are a family that believes in science, believes in medical advice from the community, in medical recommendations from doctors. We followed everything very strictly. So all of this combined is kind of what we’re still in shock at how much it didn’t seem to matter, at least to my mom.

The story continues

In mid-July, Candace and Terry Ayers traveled to Mississippi to visit an unvaccinated friend whose husband had previously had COVID-19 and died. Everyone thought the couple would be safe as they were both vaccinated and breakthrough cases around this time were rare, their son said.

“I wish there was better science back then that said maybe they should stay home, maybe these precautions are good for everyday people, but (not) for them. immunocompromised I wish the doctors hadn’t allowed my mom to go to Mississippi.

As the couple returned home five days later, Candace Ayers was already feeling very tired and then developed joint pain, nausea and a cough, recalls Marc Ayers. She tested positive for COVID-19 on July 28, while her husband tested positive three days later. Her case was mild, but it continued to deteriorate.

After two emergency room visits, Candace Ayers was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. As her oxygen levels continued to decline, she was put on a ventilator. Just when she seemed to be improving, she developed sepsis.

“After that, all of the progress my mother had made to improve her lungs a bit was wiped out and the pneumonia took over,” her son said.

“In the last week or so of his life, his lungs were completely white on x-rays – they were completely filled with fluid and infections.”

She was completely sedated and couldn’t shake hands with loved ones. They don’t know if she knew they were there. Doctors told the family to consider comfort care, which involves giving the patient pain medication, removing life support and letting her go peacefully. This is what happened on September 3rd.

“She took about four or five breaths after that and she died right there within minutes,” her son said.

“I just wish (unvaccinated people) would read my mom’s story, what we’ve been through as a family and see if it’s something they want to put their loved ones through, because I can probably make sure this is not the case. “

Marc Ayers urged everyone to get vaccinated and wear a mask to protect themselves and others. Already acquaintances and strangers reached out to him to tell him that they had received the injection after reading his mother’s story, he said: “It is already working, and so the more we can continue to talk about it. , the better. “