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A man from Alabama died after suffering a cardiac event at Cullman Regional Medical Center because the emergency staff was unable to find a cardiac ICU with a free bed.
Ray Martin DeMonia, an auctioneer in the antique business from Cullman, Alabama, was just three days shy of celebrating what would have been his 74th birthday.
He didn't die of COVID. But he died from COVID. #GetVaccinated https://t.co/KPXpzRVfzq— The FussBudget (@The FussBudget) 1631567677.0
DeMonia was transported across three states in search of an ICU with availability, but 43 hospitals all told the emergency staff they were unable to accommodate him due to hospitals being inundated with patients being treated for COVID-19.
Alabama man dies after being turned away from 43 hospitals as covid-19 patients pack ICUs, family says https://t.co/3ivPjxMUxg— The Washington Post (@The Washington Post) 1631485279.0
He passed away on Wednesday, September 1 after finally reaching a free ICU bed in Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi.
In his obituary, DeMonia's family encouraged people to get vaccinated to prevent others from suffering a loss that could have been prevented had there been a decrease in the rate of infected patients, most of whom were adamantly against inoculation.
"In honor of Ray, please get vaccinated if you have not, in an effort to free up resources for non-COVID-related emergencies."
They added:
"He would not want any other family to go through what his did."
People were enraged over the crisis in hospitals overrun with unvaccinated COVID patients that led to DeMonia's death.
@washingtonpost Can Anti-vaxxers be charged with homicide?— joe sutherland (@joe sutherland) 1631491197.0
WHAT COUNTRY ARE WE LIVING IN⁉️⁉️⁉️ https://t.co/U2wwwXRTig— Connie Mckenney (@Connie Mckenney) 1631551237.0
Sad. Avoidable. #GetVaccinated https://t.co/t9HD2M2yHA— Rev. Lee Catoe (@Rev. Lee Catoe) 1631544774.0
GOP opposing vaccines should ask themselves if they believe Ray DeMonia deserved medical care. Alabama man dies… https://t.co/HPjVsjGkTG— James Singer (@James Singer) 1631558677.0
@washingtonpost If we want to make the covid vaccine a personal choice, can we have antivaxxers sign waivers that t… https://t.co/M65IBbFVB5— Jose Moreno (@Jose Moreno) 1631485904.0
@washingtonpost This is happening all over and these unvaccinated people who are being rebellious about the vaccine… https://t.co/JhnGnuDw7y— Shar 🇯🇲Mack (@Shar 🇯🇲Mack) 1631485917.0
@washingtonpost Unvaccinated are putting everyone in danger.. this is not just ICU but allowing the Virus to contin… https://t.co/BFnfKg5fGd— SupportNoble Cause (@SupportNoble Cause) 1631487548.0
According to CBS 42, the state of Alabama saw the highest shortage of ICU beds yet during the pandemic.
The Alabama Hospital Association Deputy Director Danne Howard said:
"I can't predict what's going to happen tomorrow, but we're certainly not trending in the right direction."
"That's why we're so aggressively trying to find additional resources, so those decisions don't have to be made, so those type of life-or-death situations are not something that have to be faced."
Last week, Vernon Johnson—CEO of Dale Medical Center in Ozark, Alabama—discussed the current situation with Montgomery Advertiser.
Said Johnson:
"Now's not the time to have a heart attack, or a major car wreck, or something serious because there is nowhere to send you."
"We are holding patients in our emergency room, trying to find beds for them to go to, so they can receive appropriate care."