CARY, N.C. — A couple hospitalized with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit of a North Carolina hospital died while holding hands after more than 50 years of marriage, an unnamed nurse said Thursday in a blog post published by WakeMed Health & Hospitals.
The post, penned by a nurse at WakeMed Cary Hospital, shared the story of Thomas “Tommy” Fortenberry, 69, and his wife, Diane Fortenberry, 68. The couple died within four minutes of one another Jan. 13 after contracting COVID-19 around Christmastime, according to an obituary.
Family members said the couple met while attending high school in Mississippi and got married as teenagers in 1970. Citing their daughter, WakeMed added that the couple was “always together and loved spending time with each other.”
At the end of the day, working in health care comes down to one word: compassion. ❤️ The team at the WakeMed Cary...
Posted by WakeMed Health & Hospitals on Thursday, February 10, 2022
Family members said in an obituary that they “don’t believe their leaving their earthly home only (four) minutes apart was a coincidence,” and that they “had such an amazing love for each other.”
“Tommy was a man of few words, but he loved with all he had. He was one of the good ones,” the obituary said. “Diane never met a stranger and was deeply loved by all who met her. … Her bigger than life personality could bring a smile to any face and laughter to every heart.”
Last month, the couple’s family decided to withdraw care for them both on the same day, at the same time, weeks after they were hospitalized with COVID-19. On Jan. 13, “staff from respiratory therapy transferred Mrs. Fortenberry on the ventilator from her room into her husband’s room,” according to WakeMed.
“After setting them up, side by side, hand in hand, we gave the family some time alone with their parents, one last time,” the unnamed nurse said in Thursday’s blog post. “As soon as we moved Mrs. Fortenberry into the room, Mr. Fortenberry’s heart rate and breathing stabilized. … I feel that this was proof that sedatives, narcotics and paralytics can’t separate the connection we have with our loved ones.”
The Fortenberrys died less than an hour after they were taken off ventilators, according to WakeMed and family members.
“With their daughters standing beside them, husband and wife were side by side, holding hands, their heads facing one another, and I swear Mr. Fortenberry had a smile on his face,” the WakeMed nurse wrote. “Our staff watched from inside and outside of the room while they drifted to the next life together. Calm, peaceful and pain free.”
The nurse called the situation “the most beautiful and heartbreaking experience I have had in my 20 years of nursing,” adding that “this event will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
The Fortenberrys are survived by two daughters, three grandsons and four siblings, according to their obituary.
©2022 Cox Media Group
