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'He was my everything': Man died from COVID-19 after trying to get vaccine twice, wife says

Wife shares his story, hopes to inspire others to keep trying for their vaccines
Dan Griffin
'He was my everything': Man died from COVID-19 after trying to get vaccine twice, wife says

Wife shares his story, hopes to inspire others to keep trying for their vaccines

SHE COULD SAVE LIVES. I DIDN’T THINK IT WAS REAL FOR A LONG TIME. UNTIL MARCH 4TH WHEN HE LEFT ME THERE’S AN EMPTINESS SUSAN RICKETT FEELS ON THE FRONT PORCH OF HER BROWN COUNTY HOME. WE HAD FOUR CHILDREN. WE HAD SIX GRANDCHILDREN. AND WE HAVE TWO GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. AND THREE PUPPY DOGS HER HUSBAND OF 46 YEARS 74 YEAR OLD BOBBY RICKETT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 ON FEBRUARY 23RD HOSPITALIZED AND DIED DAYS LATER TWO TIMES TWICE. HE ATTEMPTED TO GO TO THE DRIVE-THROUGH VACCINE CLINIC AND GEORGETOWN, OHIO HERE IN BROWN COUNTY WHERE WE LIVE. OF BOTH TIMES HE WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THEY DID RUN OUT OF THE VACCINE WEEKS BEFORE HE DIED. HE’D BEEN WORKING AS USUAL. HE WAS A VETERAN OF THE US ARMY. I FEEL LIKE IF HE HAD HAD THE VACCINE. HE WOULD BE SITTING OUT HERE NEXT TO ME TODAY TALKING TO YOU SUSAN SAYS BECAUSE SHE’S 75 SHE WAS ABLE TO GET A VACCINE BEFORE HE COULD BUT THEY BOTH TOOK PRECAUTIONS. SERIOUSLY. MY HUSBAND BOB ALWAYS WORE HIS MASK. EVEN IF I HAD TO YELL AT HIM ABOUT IT YOU FORGOT YOUR MASK. OH, I FORGOT HE GRABBED IT NOW. SHE’S TELLING BOBBY’S STORY TO SAVE LIVES. HE WAS MY EVERYTHING. HE WAS MY ROCK THE KIDS MISS HIM SO MUCH MY GRANDKIDS MISS HIM SO MUCH. AND YEAH, I’M IN PAIN RIGHT NOW. NOW SUSAN SAYS HER HUSBAND WOULD NOT WANT PEOPLE TO GIVE UP ON TRYING TO GET THEIR SHOTS. SHE’S HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ADAMANT BECAUSE THE PROCESS CAN BE DIFFICULT AS SHE AND HER FAMILY HAS FOUND OUT HERE. SHE SAYS HER HUSBAND ALSO DONATED HIS BODY TO SCIENCE AT UC MEDICAL CENTER, AND SHE’S HOPING MAYBE THEY CAN FIND SOME ANSWERS WITH THIS VIR
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'He was my everything': Man died from COVID-19 after trying to get vaccine twice, wife says

Wife shares his story, hopes to inspire others to keep trying for their vaccines
Dan Griffin
As more people get vaccinated for COVID-19, it's still a struggle for some.An Ohio woman said her husband tried to get a COVID-19 vaccine twice, but before he could, he ended up contracting COVID-19 and died in a matter of days.She said the virus has broken her heart, but also inspired her to advocate for others."I didn't think it was real for a long time, until March 4, when he left me," Susan Rickett said.There's an emptiness Rickett feels on the front porch of her Brown County home."We had four children. We had six grandchildren and we have two great-grandchildren and three puppy dogs," she said.Her husband of 46 years, Bob "Bobby" Rickett, 74, was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Feb. 23, hospitalized for eight days and died after he was taken to hospice."Two times. Twice. He attempted to go to the drive-thru vaccine clinic in Georgetown, Ohio, here in Brown County where we live. Both times, he was turned away because they did run out of the vaccine," Rickett said.Weeks before he died, Rickett said he'd been working as usual to support his family.He was a veteran of the U.S. Army."I feel like if he had had the vaccine, he would be sitting out here next to me talking to you," Rickett said.She said because she's 75, she was able to get a vaccine before her husband could.Rickett said they both took precautions seriously."My husband, Bob, always wore his mask. Even if I had to yell at him about it. 'You forgot your mask! Oh, I forgot!' He grabbed it," she said.Now, she's telling his story, to show the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible."He was my everything. He was my rock. The kids miss him so much. My grandkids miss him so much and, yeah, I'm in pain right now," Rickett said.She said her husband donated his body to science and she hopes maybe they will be able to find some answers about the virus.Rickett said they both made the decision to donate their bodies to science years ago.
BROWN COUNTY, Ohio —

As more people get vaccinated for COVID-19, it's still a struggle for some.

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An Ohio woman said her husband tried to get a COVID-19 vaccine twice, but before he could, he ended up contracting COVID-19 and died in a matter of days.

She said the virus has broken her heart, but also inspired her to advocate for others.

"I didn't think it was real for a long time, until March 4, when he left me," Susan Rickett said.

There's an emptiness Rickett feels on the front porch of her Brown County home.

"We had four children. We had six grandchildren and we have two great-grandchildren and three puppy dogs," she said.

Her husband of 46 years, Bob "Bobby" Rickett, 74, was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Feb. 23, hospitalized for eight days and died after he was taken to hospice.

"Two times. Twice. He attempted to go to the drive-thru vaccine clinic in Georgetown, Ohio, here in Brown County where we live. Both times, he was turned away because they did run out of the vaccine," Rickett said.

Weeks before he died, Rickett said he'd been working as usual to support his family.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

"I feel like if he had had the vaccine, he would be sitting out here next to me talking to you," Rickett said.

She said because she's 75, she was able to get a vaccine before her husband could.

Rickett said they both took precautions seriously.

"My husband, Bob, always wore his mask. Even if I had to yell at him about it. 'You forgot your mask! Oh, I forgot!' He grabbed it," she said.

Now, she's telling his story, to show the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

"He was my everything. He was my rock. The kids miss him so much. My grandkids miss him so much and, yeah, I'm in pain right now," Rickett said.

She said her husband donated his body to science and she hopes maybe they will be able to find some answers about the virus.

Rickett said they both made the decision to donate their bodies to science years ago.