ATHENS, Tenn. — Sandy Blankenship, 71, died early Wednesday morning after testing positive for coronavirus at the Life Care Center of Athens, according to her family.
Blankenship was a resident at the Athens nursing home where 54 residents have tested positive for COVID-19.
Her daughter, Crystal McCullough, said it happened fast.
Blankenship had a low-grade fever on Thursday, April 23 and was put in isolation as a precaution. Her test results came back Saturday and at 1 a.m. Monday morning, she was taken to Starr Regional Medical Center in Athens.
She died Wednesday morning just after midnight, her son, Keith Blankenship, said.
McCullough said staff at the hospital put a phone to her mother’s ear so the family could say goodbye.
“She was an amazing woman. She was loved and touched every person she met," McCullough said.