Clarke County Democrat

Darlene’s home!

Grove Hill’s Darlene Smith was in hospital fighting COVID-19 for 94 days but overcame it!



Bruce and Darlene Smith. Yellow ribbons everywhere welcomed Darlene home.

Bruce and Darlene Smith. Yellow ribbons everywhere welcomed Darlene home.

July 4th is a grand day for Americans but for the Smith family of Grove Hill, July 2nd was a personal super day. That is the day a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a friend came home after spending 94 days in Mobile Infirmary battling COVID-19.

Darlene and Bruce Smith were both diagnosed with COVID-19 in March. Bruce got over his pretty quickly with few problems. But Darlene didn’t and was hospitalized in Mobile Infirmary where she would spend 94 days. She was in a COVID ICU unit, on and off a ventilator and unable to be seen by her husband or other family members.

Daughter Bridget Franz posted a daily update and commentary on her mother’s condition and some days things seemed bleak only for Darlene to rally the next day. It was an emotional roller coaster for the family and friends who watched and prayed for Darlene as she struggled to fight the virus.

She suffered several mini strokes but they didn’t affect her mental ability.

She came home by ambulance and Grove Hill turned out along Jackson Street. The ambulance was accompanied by Grove Hill’s fire trucks and police vehicles. Well-wishers waved and held up signs. Darlene couldn’t see it all from inside of the ambulance, of course, but she knew there was a homecoming celebration for her.

 

 

A small crowd of family and friends were awaiting at the Smiths’ home on Asbury Road.

Darlene will be getting a lot of bed rest as she continues to recover but her recovery is expected to be better now that she is at home in familiar surroundings with family who can see her, talk to her and help her.

Bridget Franz said of the homecoming, “I have never in my life been prouder to be from a small town. The outpouring of love and support the last 94 days has been unimaginable.”

“My heart was absolutely bursting when they took her out of the ambulance and brought her back into her house.” She thanked everyone who had a part in the homecoming and everyone who stood beside the street to cheer their arrival. God answers prayers and she is a testament to that.”

Family members and others gathered at the Smith home on the Asbury Road to welcome Darlene Smith July 2. The ambulance she came home in was escorted through Grove Hill by fire trucks and police vehicles as citizens lined the street to wave and cheer the homecoming. Photos by Ross Wood

Family members and others gathered at the Smith home on the Asbury Road to welcome Darlene Smith July 2. The ambulance she came home in was escorted through Grove Hill by fire trucks and police vehicles as citizens lined the street to wave and cheer the homecoming. Photos by Ross Wood

“We still have a long way to go but as long as we have each other and this town, I know we will be fine.”

Bruce Smith thanked the community for the support. Speaking for his wife, he said, “She was overwhelmed by the show of support and the outpouring of love that was shown to her…she believes she is not the warrior [but] it was the great number of people that prayed everyday without end for her that are the prayer warriors. She believes God has spared her for another purpose and she cannot wait to give her testimony.”

Bruce Smith said she couldn’t wait until she could be up and out and about to thank everyone personally.

Once Darlene is fully recovered, The Democrat hopes to be able to interview the Smiths for a story on their ordeal.

Welcome home, Darlene Smith!

 

 

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