Logan Woman Loses Two Family Members To COVID-19
Dec 2, 2020, 8:08 PM | Updated: 8:40 pm
LOGAN, Utah – A Cache County woman who lost two family members to COVID-19 has issued a plea to all Utahns to do what they can to avoid the spread of the virus.
Logan resident Lindsay Wootton lost her mother and grandfather, and her father is dealing with some lasting impacts from the virus.
She told KSL TV she wants all of us to do our part to try and prevent tragedies like this from happening.
Lindsay Wootton has shared her painful story a lot. She lost her mom & grandpa to COVID. Her dad is still dealing with some difficult lasting impacts. It's not easy to talk about, but she does it because she wants people to understand that it can happen to any family… pic.twitter.com/VIyh635jHX
— Mike Anderson (@mikeandersonKSL) December 2, 2020
“My mom was the most beautiful person,” she said. “Her biggest goal in life was to be a grandma.”
Wootton said her mother, Tracy Larsen, was 56-years old and spent a career helping special needs children.
Her grandfather, Bert Porter, was 80 years old.
“So sweet, and gentle,” she said of Porter. “The hardest-working man I’ve ever met.”
The two lives were taken just days apart. Then there’s her dad, 61-year-old Chad Larsen, who’s a softball coach at Snow College.
All three spent well over a month in the hospital – neighbors in the ICU. Wootton was told several times that respirators were likely.
“I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that any of my family members were bad enough ever to be placed on a ventilator,” she said.
They all ended up on BiPAP, which keeps positive pressure, going into the lungs. ”I’ve watched my loved ones suffer. I’ve watched my loved ones fight for every last breath.”
She said it’s something she would not wish on anyone else. Chard Larsen is recovering but he’s still on a walker and oxygen.
“He is battling the long-term effects of COVID-19 as well as the emotional effects of losing his wife,” Wootton said. “Please listen to the healthcare professionals. They are working tirelessly, taking care of our loved ones.”
Wootton said the virus wreaked havoc in her grandfather’s and mother’s lungs. “Inside of her lungs looked like ground up, or shattered glass.”
People are getting sick, many dying. Wootten believes we should not be okay with it. “This has been devastating, to the least, for my family.”
Wootton said she saw healthcare workers putting in very long hours. Some six days a week, 12 hours a day.
When her mom passed, she said, her mom’s doctor and favorite nurse stayed with her and cried with the family.
