Who is Bethany Nesbitt? Indiana girl with Covid-19 found dead in dorm, family raises over $22K to aid students
A 20-year-old Indiana student, who was studying at Grace College, Winona Lake, and pursuing a career as a child life specialist, was found dead in her dorm room recently. The student, Bethany Nesbitt, had been quarantining after testing positive for Covid-19. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up by the girl's family "to provide scholarships to students with similar dreams and financial needs".
Nesbitt was found dead in a residence hall at Grace College on October 30, according to the Charlotte Observer. Her official cause of death was stated to be from a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of an artery in the lungs. Describing the official cause of the death, a statement on her GoFundMe page reads, "The official cause of death was a pulmonary embolism — the result of a blood clot — which, according to medical journals and several medical experts we have consulted, is recognized as being one of the most common causes of death among COVID-19 patients."
“After a complete investigation and autopsy, the cause of death has been ruled natural due to a pulmonary embolus that had not been previously detected,” Coroner Tony Ciriello said. “While COVID did play a role in contributing to the death, it was not caused by COVID," he added. Nesbitt, a psychology major from Michigan, suffered from asthma and started getting Covid-19 symptoms on October 20. She was rushed to an emergency room last week when her oxygen level dropped, the outlet reported. But the doctor stated that Nesbitt had been recovering, which is why she returned to her dorm to quarantine.
Nesbitt's family has urged everyone to remain cautious as Covid-19 cases rise. “Please don’t assume that young people will not be impacted by this virus,” a statement from the Nesbitts read. “Bethany was careful. She wore her mask. She socially distanced. We urge you to follow health officials’ protocols and precautions. We had already canceled our family holiday plans before Bethany got sick. The risks of gathering in large groups aren’t worth it this year," the statement added.
The fundraiser will provide scholarships to students who need financial help for their studies. Describing Nesbitt, the fundraiser reads, "Bethany was born in Lapeer, Mich., on June 1, 2000, the youngest of nine children to Steve and Brenda Nesbitt. She graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 2018, and was studying at Grace College to become a child life specialist." The fundraiser has raised $22,310, of $25,000 goal amount, within 24 hours.
