Anti-vaxx couple both die from Covid, leaving behind five children
An un-vaccinated couple aged in their 40s died of Covid-19 just weeks apart, leaving behind their children and family members who are upset they didn't get inoculated against the virus.
Kevin and Misty Mitchem's relatives had urged them to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but they refused.
The couple who lived in the US state of Virginia had been married for 17 years and had four children together, while Kevin had another child and a grandson.
Kevin's brother, Mike Mitchem, told The Free Lance–Star his brother developed a cough last month, going to hospital and returning home with cough medicine.
Just days later he tested positive for Covid-19 and was told to stay at home and rest, a few days later his wife Misty, a diabetic, became ill and was sent to hospital.
Misty was put on a ventilator, her kidneys only functioning at 50 per cent, and the next day her husband was also admitted to hospital.
She died on September 23, at just 46-years-old
“Within five hours, she was gone,” Mr Mitchem told The Free Lance-Star, saying his sister-in-law only had days between her first Covid symptoms and death.
Mr Mitchem said his brother didn't have any health issues before he had Covid. He reportedly led a healthy life, not drinking, smoking or taking drugs and was not overweight.
Family's pain after couple's death
Kevin died on October 8, at age 48. Both he and his wife were wary of taking the vaccine due to what they had seen on the internet.
“Part of our pain is anger,” Mr Mitchem told The Free Lance-Star.
“Anger because people are still not getting the vaccine. If you think about it, you need to have certain vaccines before you can even go to school. What’s the big deal about this one?”
Mr Mitchem told PEOPLE he had asked his brother to go get vaccinated.
"His response to me was to show different memes and stuff that he found on Facebook," he said.
"He believed all that to be gospel truth and I could not change his mind."
Mr Mitchem also said while Kevin was in hospital, he asked for staff to give him the vaccine.
"They had to tell him it was too late," he said.
Don Mitchem, Kevin's father, told NBC he called him and said he was "scared to death" before he was put on a ventilator.
His mother recalled a phone call in which he expressed his regret over his hesitancy.
“He called me up and said, ‘Mum, I love you and I wish that I’d got the shot,’” Terry Mitchem told NBC Washington.
The family have spoken out in various US media outlets, urging people to get vaccinated.
“That virus will take you at any age. But taking a mother and father is, it’s uncalled for,” Mr Mitchem said.
Misty and Kevin's children are now living with a relative and a GoFundMe has been set up for them and their grandchild.
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