LEXINGTON, SC (WIS) – COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 5,768 South Carolinaians since the pandemic began, with DHEC reporting more than 650 people dying since January 1 alone.
One such painful loss is Ashley Bennett, a 36-year-old Lexington woman who died just days after giving birth to her tenth child.
“His world was around his children,” said Courtney Bucknam, Ashley’s sister. “She absolutely loved them.”
Bucknam said Ashley was about 34 weeks pregnant when she tested positive for COVID-19 in late December. After an emergency delivery on January 1, her 10 children lost their mother to the virus just seven days later.
“Pneumonia hit her and came with a vengeance,” said Bucknam. “It was terrible.”
Bucknam said, more than anything, Bennett loved being a mother.
“She really was put on this earth to be a mother,” said Bucknam.
Ashley’s 10 children are two weeks to 18 years old. Bucknam said Bennett, along with her husband Darryl and all of their children, tested positive for COVID-19 in December.
“He automatically progressed to bronchitis with Darryl and Ashley, and Ashley has progressed dramatically,” said Bucknam.
Bucknam said Bennett had no pre-existing problems, but when his health started to deteriorate, his doctors performed an emergency cesarean section on January 1. She gave birth to a healthy girl, but never had a chance to hold her.
“I think, deep down, she was worried that something was going to happen, so she just wanted to make sure we took care of the children and that they knew how much she loved them,” Bucknam said.
Bucknam said Ashley had a blood clot that led to a stroke. She said Bennett was intubated and had surgery, but died on January 8.
“She was an incredible person,” said Bucknam. “If we can learn anything from this, it is that COVID is very serious, and we really need to take precautions because she was only 36 years old. She had no underlying diseases and left basically in 10 days. ”
Bucknam said Ashley loved to help people. She said Ashley educated all 10 children at home and volunteered at the Lexington County Fire Department before that. She was the first woman to complete the gym in 2010.
If you would like to make a donation to Bennett’s children and husband, visit GoFundMe family page.
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