Broken Arrow Man Dies From COVID-19 Days Before Thanksgiving

A 52-year-old Broken Arrow man died of COVID-19 two days before Thanksgiving, despite, says his widow, having no prior health issues. Stacey Weaver spent 44 days in a hospital and weeks on a ventilator before dying November 24. 

Cori Beckman, his widow, said she can’t bring herself to move the tools he left on the table, or his shoes by the door, and still can't imagine she's bought an urn for his remains. She said they both believed his hospitalization would be brief, because he was healthy before COVID19.

“COVID attacks the lungs, and it attacked his lungs and never let go,” said Beckman.

She said her active and working husband quickly worsened, requiring a ventilator, plasma, remdesivir, steroids and blood transfusions, but all of that wasn't enough.

“I mean this is a 52-year-old guy who is 6-2, 220, no health issues, and we thought he would just go in there and get some medicine” said Beckman. “We didn't want him to get but we never thought he would. He was so much healthier and stronger than me.”

After he was admitted, she couldn’t see him except through video calls, and since he was soon put on a ventilator, she couldn’t speak with him either.

Like so many families dealing with the loss of a loved one to COVID-19, she's got the added worries of staggering medical bills - already over $400,000. She's hoping to raise money so she doesn't lose her house next. Because of delays from the holiday, she is still waiting for his body to be released for cremation.

She has set up a fundraising page to help pay for his care.