Lauderdale County family hurt by claims father didn't die of coronavirus

Video Credit: WAAY ABC Huntsville, AL
Published on September 11, 2020 -
Lauderdale County family hurt by claims father didn't die of coronavirus

Lauderdale County family hurt by claims father didn't die of coronavirus

Cases per day in that same time period.

The family of lauderdale county's first official coronavirus victim is sharing what they've experienced in the months since his death.

Albert johnson trousdale - known by family and friends as johnson - died from the virus in march.

His family told us he passed away in huntsville hospital - but they couldn't be by his side because of coronavirus protocols.

Waay31's breken terry sat down with the trousdale family to hear their story.

I spoke with johnson trousdales son, matthew and his wife nicole.

They told me the pain of losing johnson is immeasurable for the whole family.

But they said what makes it even harder is comments from people who say the virus is a hoax - because for this family it's anything but that.

Matthew- just for some reason this pandemic the way it's done the way the virus is done people kind of ignore there are real people behind this situation.

Matthew trousdale said he never thought he'd have to defend his dad's death certificate.

Matthew- i'll have people come up to me and say i'm sorry about your dad but you know if the democrats would do this or if the republicans would do that or it's all a hoax or over blown.

No matter what they say i still have a tombstone to look at.

It's real hard to convince me it's a hoax or anything else especially when i seen all the symptoms he went through.

He said normally when you lose someone close - people rally around you.

He told me he hopes people can still find a way to do that.

Matthew- if we had the mindset that happened with 9/11 instead of fighting over masks we'd be knocking each other down to figure out how to make more masks.

He says for his family - the virus changed everything.

It led to the loss of his father - nancy trousdale's husband of 63 years - and a veteran who served his country for 21 years.

Matthew told me his dad was still serving his community and church up to the week he started to run a high fever, which was one of his first symptoms of coronavirus.

Matthew- you know that thing it ain't just a number.

Nicole- it's an empty spot you know.

Your used to every night making that phone call before supper or after supper and he's not there to make that phone call to.

In alabama more than 2,100 people have died from coronavirus.

Matthew said he knows his family isn't the only one grieving.

He has this message to the community.

Matthew- matthew- treat people like you'd want to be treated if your mother or daddy, brother or sister died do you want to hear someone's political views on how they died?

You probably don't.

To me condolences and a good story about dad hey that's what i need that's what mom needs.

Matthew and his family told me they hope people don't get mad at them for speaking up and hope everyone can show a little more empathy.

He said despite the challenges of losing his father - his family has still gotten support during this time.

In lauderdale co bt waay31.

The family told waay31 they wanted to speak on this issue so people can help understand and learn how to lift families up who have

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