Tampa nurse dies of COVID-19
Jordan Bowen reports
TAMPA, Fla. – Loved ones and the community are remembering a flight nurse and practicing nurse from Tampa who died after fighting COVID-19 since before Thanksgiving.
Steven Neher was 49 and worked as a nurse at the Falkenburg Road prison in the Hillsborough County sheriff’s office when he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Also an aviation nurse and registered nurse at Tampa General Hospital, Neher’s family says he proudly risked his life every day to treat patients with COVID-19. But on Tuesday, he lost his life due to the virus.
Steven Neher, courtesy family
His death was a surprise to friends and family who say he was healthy, with no underlying diseases, but after a few weeks of fighting the virus, his condition quickly worsened.
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“He’s funny and makes everyone laugh and make everyone feel welcome, whether he knows you or not,” said Neher’s aunt Elizabeth Alesafar.
Neher’s partner for 10 years, Christian Riddell says Steven tested positive for COVID-19 on 25 November. A week and a half later, his oxygen levels dropped.
“He was passionate about health and helping people and saving their lives when they really, really needed it,” said Riddell. “He had oxygen with him and I slept on the floor next to him just to make sure he would be fine and then in the morning he was trying to find out which hospital had the best treatment.”
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Health officials suspect that the increase was the result of people who traveled on vacation, as well as the fatigue of COVID-19.
Neher was admitted to the hospital on December 5. Days later, he was placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. More than three weeks later, he lost his battle against COVID-19.
“We were in no condition. No asthma. Nothing wrong with us. We train. We are still quite young. There is no reason why he died,” said Riddell.
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Neher dedicated his life to caring for others. Before working as a nurse at Falkenburg Road Jail, he was a nurse at TGH and also spent several years as a flight nurse, where he taught courses for other nurses in training.
When he was not working, Riddell says that Neher touched the lives of many friends and family.
“It is unbelievable how many people loved him and he left too soon,” said Riddell.
Riddell says he and Neher took every precaution, wore masks and distanced themselves socially. They believe he may have contracted the virus while working in prison.
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LINK: Florida COVID-19 website
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