‘So much to live for’: Kentucky’s first confirmed COVID-19 patient opens up about life 5 years later

CYNTHIANA,Ky.(LEX18)—March6,2020wasapivotaldayinthetimelineoftheCOVID-19pandemicinKentucky. Itwasthedaypublichealthofficialsrevealedthestate’sfirstconfirmedCOVID-19case:ayoungwomaninHarrisonCounty. “Atthistimeitisasinglecase.Itwasexpected,”GovernorAndyBesheartoldKentuckians. LEX18wouldlaterlearnthatwomanwas27-year-oldJuliaDonohue,thenacakedecoratoratWalmart. Shewouldspendnearlytwoweeksinthehospital,includingseveraldaysonaventilator.Shewasscaredforherlife. “ItriedtopreparemyselffortheworstwhentheytoldmeI’dbeonaventilatorandtheydidn’tknowwhatwaswrongwithme,soItriedtosaymygoodbyes,”Donohuesaid. Atthetime,Donohueherselfhadlimitedknowledgeofthevirusanddidn’tknowithadevenarrivedintheUnitedStates. It’sstillunclearwhereshecameincontactwiththevirus,sinceshehadnotleftthearea. “Ican’tbelieveIwentfrompointAtopointB.I’