[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]Family wasn’t allowed to visit due to COVID-19 precautions in hospitals.“Absolutely no visitors.
So right there, you’re cut off,” Lori said.She said she appreciated Andy’s doctor, who called her every day with an update. But the Birchills felt helpless at home.“You sit on pins and needles all the time.
In your mind — how is he?” Lori said.Andy’s health quickly deteriorated as the virus attacked his lungs.“It was a week later and the doctor phoned again and he said he is really working hard to breathe and his body might just wear out trying to breathe,” Lori said.As part of compassionate care, Andy’s three adult children and his wife of 66 years were allowed to come.