‘You just don’t know who’s going to die next:’ Patient inside Washington nursing home speaks out

Credit: KIRO7.com

Credit: KIRO7.com

patient being treated in connection with the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state is speaking out.

Susan Hailey, 76, is recovering from knee surgery and a broken ankle at Life Care Center of Kirkland, where at least 13 of the state's 16 deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred.

"You just don't know who's going to die next," she told KIRO-TV.

Hailey’s daughter, Carmen Gray, fought to get her mother tested. Hailey was taken to Evergreen Hospital on Wednesday night to be tested. Gray says her mom didn’t have shortness of breath, so she was transported back to Life Care Center early Thursday morning. Gray was frustrated her mom was taken back to the care center.

“I cried the other night. My sister and I promised her once we got her out of here, we would not be bringing her back. I let her down,” said Gray, who took a photo of her mom through a window.

“I didn’t want to go back,” said Hailey. “I want to go home, and I know I’m technically not ready to go home because of my feet.”

On Friday, Gray said she was told that patients taken to local hospitals would no longer be returned to the care center.

King County Executive Dow Constantine said, as of Friday, there are 69 patients in the care center and 15 of them were transported to the hospital within the last 24 hours.

“We’ve had some challenges with Life Care, and I’m starting to lose my patience. But we continue to work with them. They’re a part of this picture in helping provide care for residents and families,” said Constantine.

Hailey is still waiting for the outcome of her coronavirus test.

“A very good friend of mine died Sunday,” she said. “It’s terrible. She was a lovely, lovely woman.”

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