MONTGOMERY (AP) Christina Tidmore and Josh Tidmore, both in their 30s and healthy, figured that they were low-risk for COVID-19. They decided to wait despite the conflicting opinions on whether or not to get vaccinated against this virus that were flooding their social media feeds.
Josh was ill with a slight, but not severe, cough on July 20. He died from COVID-19 on August 11. Christina Tidmore saw a doctor and her team desperately try to revive her husband.
She would respond, "I need a pulse." "I would hear, no pulse," Christina Tidmore cried. They tried so hard.
This should not happen. I was 35, he was 36 and I am 35. We have three children.
She now urges young adults to not dismiss the danger and to get vaccinated.
Josh was healthy and active. He would have been 37 years old on Saturday.
Doctors are reporting a rise in cases among children and young adults as the highly contagious delta virus sweeps through unvaccinated people. Although there are conflicting reports on whether it causes more severe illness or if young people are more susceptible, it is clear that the contagious nature of the virus means more children and young adults are becoming sick.
Scott Harris, the State Health Officer for Harris, stated Friday that there is no doubt that the average age of those who are hospitalized is declining.
It is unclear if delta is more dangerous in this age group than any other strains I have seen. ... However, what you have is one that is much more easily transmissible. These younger people are more vulnerable than seniors because they are the majority of the state's vaccinated. You can see that they are getting infected at a higher rate than before.
The state's COVID deaths have increased by 14% in the last four weeks to include people between 25 and 49 years old. People aged 50-64 years made up 29%.
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The state is also experiencing an increase in COVID cases among children. However, deaths have not yet occurred. This week, 50 children were admitted to pediatric hospitals with COVID-19.
According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, 6% of COVID-19 cases in Alabama over the last four weeks were among children younger than five years old. 8% of the cases were among children aged five-17 years.
I am concerned about the increase in hospitalizations and illness among children in Alabama due to COVID-19. Children can contract the COVID-19 virus and spread it. According to Dr. Karen Landers of the Alabama Department of Public Health, COVID-19 is a serious disease that can affect children. At least 6% of them will experience long-term effects.
Alabama Hospital Association reported this week that 85% hospitalized COVID-19 victims are not vaccinated.
Christina Tidmore had COVID-19, but she was able to recover. Although she claimed that she and her husband are not anti-vaccine they heard contradictory information from doctors.
It's just a battle. There is political garbage and there is this side. She said, "You don't know who to believe."
Josh was a jokester with a big heart. He loved to laugh and help people, especially children. He wore an inflatable dinosaur costume to Easter and Christmas parties and hugged his family members. He was known to photobomb people at the beach. He was quick to assist a motorcyclist who had been injured in an accident close to the church he and his grandparents built in north Alabama.
He could make you feel better than anyone else. He was always there to listen. Christina Tidmore stated that he truly cared about everyone.
Family members are relying on faith to make it through. Christina Tidmore hopes to tell the story of her husband Josh to help others as Josh would.
She said that vaccinations are the best way to save your life.
She said that she has many feelings, lots of regrets and lots and lots of what-ifs. You don't want to do this. You don't.
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This story changes the summary's first sentence to reflect Alabama and not Mississippi.
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