LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Kentucky family is grieving a loved one.

71-year-old Stanley Buckler lost his fight with COVID-19 after spending three weeks at the University of Kentucky’s ICU. 

“He tried so hard to fight, he was just tired,” said Savannah Hash, Buckler’s daughter-in-law. “That’s when we had to turn the ventilator off.”

Buckler had a stroke in December 2019 and required physical therapy at home. Unfortunately, his physical therapist had no idea she was positive with COVID-19. The virus spread to Hash’s sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. 

Hash wants you to remember her family when Beshear mentions numbers. 

“You’re not hearing real-life stories, you’re just seeing the numbers on a slideshow at a 5:00 pm update,” said Hash.

She has taken to social media and tried to inform the community to continue to exercise caution when you go to the grocery store. She said her family couldn’t be at Buckler’s bedside or hold his hand when he passed.

“Not being able to see your dad in the hospital. Not to be able to see your mom at home to comfort her knowing that her husband of 43 years is dying,” said Hash. “It’s absolutely terrible.”

Hash said that her other two family members who contracted COVID-19 are doing better. But, they are still experiencing respiratory pain and cough.

Spectrum News 1 wants to honor all of the Kentuckians who have passed from the virus. Please visit our Lives Lost page to see some of the incredible people we have lost. And if you or someone you know was taken by COVID-19, please share their story with us, so we can share it with those in the state.