Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Ohio Woman's Family 'Destroyed' After Virus Kills Both Her Parents And Her Brother, And Leaves Her Husband On Life Support

Ohio Woman's Family 'Destroyed' After Virus Kills Both Her Parents And Her Brother, And Leaves Her Husband On Life Support
NBC4/Youtube

The virus has now killed over 56,000 people worldwide and over 6,000 in the U.S. alone.

With those numbers rising every day, more and more people are forced to count themselves as one of those directly impacted by the pandemic.


It is tragic for everybody, of course. But few have been dealt as severe a blow as one woman in Ohio, whose family has been all but wiped out by the disease.

Kelley Bonkey Billups, of Ohio, has lost a majority of the people closest to her in a matter of days, The Columbus Dispatch reports.

The virus first took her brother, 51-year-old David Conkey. Three days later, Billups' mother and father died within hours of each other.

All three of them had pre-existing health conditions.

Now, her husband, Don Billups, clings to life on a ventilator. The 51-years-old initially tested negative for the virus, though his current condition has doctors identifying the virus as the clear and likely culprit. The results of a second test remain pending.

Billups spoke with The Columbus Dispatch—from quarantine in her own homeabout the impossible emotions she feels as a result of the tragic few days.

"It's like a nightmare. It's like ... knowing that a big winter storm is blowing in and you get prepared and you hunker down and you just wonder how bad it's going to get, how long it's going to last, and what happens when it's all over and how you dig yourself out."
"But I don't know how to dig myself out now."

Billups' daughter, Katie Garbrandt, told NBC4 Columbus that she and Billups were given permission to visit her parents at the hospital during their final moments.

Of course, hospital visits are a very rare thing while the virus continues to overwhelm medical facilities across the United States, and fears of any unnecessary spread abound.

Garbrandt told NBC4 about both the logistics and emotions of the parting visit.

"We were all gowned, all gloved, all masked."
"They met us at the door and escorted us the whole way through and they've been very, very supportive, very compassionate the entire time."
"We're hanging in there. We've gotten a lot of prayers, support and love from all of our family, friends, several people we don't know as well as the hospital, and that's really what's keeping us going."

The story gave the internet some pause, and sympathetic messages were shared.

Robert Goldman/Facebook


Aisling Tony/Facebook


Jam Ortiz/Facebook

Kelley Conkey Billups, during that conversation with The Columbus Dispatch, made sure to offer advice to everyone she could:

"Most importantly, I want people to understand the urgency of staying home and social distancing."
"That's what I want to drive home. I want to spare another family the pain and trauma that we are living."

More from Trending

Donald Trump; Superman (2025) poster
Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Warner Bros. Pictures

White House Blasted After Portraying Trump As Superman In Bonkers Poster Mock-up

The White House was mercilessly mocked online after it posted a revised poster for the latest Superman film that features President Donald Trump as the Man of Steel.

The latest big screen adaptation of the famed superhero comic, Superman, was directed by James Gunn and stars David Corenswet as the titular superhero, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film has received positive reviews and has already made an estimated $2.8 million from Tuesday previews for a total $21 million, including Thursday previews.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Charlie Kirk
Real America's Voice

MAGA Influencer Charlie Kirk Called Out After Blaming DEI For High Death Toll In Texas Flooding Disaster

Turning Point USA founder and MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk was harshly criticized after he claimed the death toll in the flash floods that have devastated central Texas "would not have been as high if it wasn't for DEI," ridiculously suggesting that principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion were responsible.

Kirk's comments are reflective of President Donald Trump’s broader push to dismantle federal programs focused on diversity and inclusion—part of what he pledged in his inaugural address would be a campaign to stop attempts to “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”

Keep ReadingShow less

People Reveal The Dark Secrets They Discovered About Someone After They Died

Sometimes you never know who someone is until they're gone.

Everyone has their secrets.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jesse Watters; Hakeem Jeffries
Fox News; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Jesse Watters Pathetically Tries To Burn Hakeem Jeffries With Bizarre 'Rule For Men' Rant

Fox News personality Jesse Watters was widely mocked after he criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for having recently shared a photo of himself on Instagram that appeared to be digitally altered—with the bench he was leaning against noticeably warped around his hips.

You can see Jeffries' photo below.

Keep ReadingShow less
Snoop Dogg
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images

Snoop Dogg's Puppy Instagram Breaks Internet

Snoop Dogg introduced his fans to the newest little bow-wow in his household, a puppy named Baby Boy Broadus.

The adorable small tan French bulldog made his debut on the rapper’s Instagram account on June 28th, sporting a Louis Vuitton leash and chewing on his owner’s Death Row Jacket.

Keep ReadingShow less