FRANKLIN, Ind. (WTHR) — Families are losing loved ones to COVID-19 every day in Indiana. While doctors and nurses provide the best care possible, some patients do not recover from the coronavirus.
Brad and Emily Slade wrote a thank you letter to health care workers after his father died April 2. Wally Slade was 94 years old, a World War II veteran, and the first patient to die from COVID-19 at Johnson Memorial Health in Franklin.
This is the letter written by the Slade family:
Dear Doctors, Nurses and Staff,
It has been so difficult to find the right words to express our deep gratitude and love we have for you. You took care of our dad, father-in-law, and grandpa, Wally Slade, during his last days. From what we saw, you gave him the kind of love, care and compassion we would have had we been able to be by his side. We love you for your kindness.
Never in the many days Wally was with you did we feel like an inconvenience. You answered our many calls, you kept us informed and even put on your “space suits” so we could see our sweet Wally’s face one last time. We love you for your communication.
This disease is going to require a long and hard fight. You are strong enough to keep fighting. Families like ours are the reason you need to keep fighting. We need you. Our “Wally’s” need you. We love you for your strength.
Patients will heal and patients will pass, but please know, in the end of all of this, our family, like so many others, will be forever grateful for you regardless of the outcome. You have a very big job to do and we do not take your dedication and sacrifice for granted. We love you, too.
We pray for your strength, health, and safety every day. Please don’t give up.
All our love,
Brad, Emily, Katie & Ben Slade
Wally had lived at the Otterbein Senior Health community across the street from the hospital. Seven residents at the facility have died from COVID-19. Wally was admitted to Johnson Memorial Health on Saturday, March 28 and died the following Thursday.
The Slade family moved to Spokane, Washington, several months ago. They had been living on a farm in Bargersville for the past few years. They had hoped to move Wally to a long-term facility in Spokane this summer.
With a Zoom video conference on Monday, 13 News connected the Slade family with nurses that cared for Wally in his final days.
Lissy Miller is one of the nurses that cared for Wally and received the letter.
"It gives you a ray of hope,” Miller told the Slade family. “We're in here, no windows, no nothing and just to know that people appreciate what you're doing. And not everybody expresses it, but we know the gratitude is out there. It means a lot that you guys reached out and did that.”
Governor Eric Holcomb read the letter at his daily media briefing last week to encourage health care workers around the state.
"This is happening all across the country where our loved ones are in the hospital, and families can go and see them,” Brad told the nurses, fighting back tears. “That's a difficult thing, and you guys did so much for us and I appreciate it."
"It meant so much that they were there even though we couldn't be," Emily said.
“We appreciate it a lot,” Miller said.
“And we can guarantee we won't give up,” said nurse Linda Campbell. “This is a battle that we're here to win so we will be here until the end."
Johnson Memorial Health has a new emergency department being used strictly as a COVID-19 unit. On Monday, the hospital celebrated the 12th patient to recover and go home. The unit currently has nine COVID-19 patients with room for 28.