Texas Bride-to-Be Dies of COVID-19 a Few Days after She Was Supposed to Get Married

A Texan woman, who spent her wedding day in the hospital after being admitted for coronavirus, died just 5 days after the day she was meant to say 'I do.' She was set to wed in the same field her fiance had proposed to her in.

Stephanie Lynn Smith (29) had dreams of walking down the aisle to marry Jamie Basset, on the same day he had proposed to her, November 13. She never made it to her big day, after losing her life to Covid-19.

Instead, Smith found herself hospitalized on her wedding day after being diagnosed with Coronavirus and pneumonia, where she battled anxiety. She had to be resuscitated 3 times via CPR, before she lost her life on November 17.

RECEIVING COVID DIAGNOSIS

Smith initially complained about feeling ill on November 3, without displaying any symptoms of the virus. By Saturday, she was convinced she was suffering from shingles, a condition she had previously dealt with. Her mom, Oralia Smith said:

She was stressing about the wedding. She went to see the doctor about that, and he gave her medication for that."

When Smith's condition failed to improve the following Monday, Basset took his fiance to the hospital, where she received a Covid-19 and pneumonia diagnosis. Smith was discharged to recover at home and was administered vitamins.

DETERIORATING CONDITION

While at home, the 29-year-old was plagued by fatigue. Her condition worsened as her appetite decreased. Basset noticed that his future bride was also unable to keep anything down.

A mere 24 hours later, Smith was back in the hospital following her oxygen levels plummeting. As a result, she spent her wedding day isolated, where she also battled anxiety attacks.

Basset has described his late fiance as "caring" with a desire to make the world a better place.

SEEING HER ONE LAST TIME

Little did Oralia and Basset know, that day marked the final time they would see Smith alive. And so, it was with a kiss that Oralia told her daughter that she would be alright, before saying they would be reunited the next day.

In the early morning of November 18, Basset and Smith's family were called to the hospital. Basset recalled fearing the worst while driving there, knowing very well it could only have been for a serious reason that they were being called. He said:

“They told us that they’d lost her pulse four times, and they brought her back three times with CPR, and for the last one they couldn’t get her pulse back.”

A HEARTBREAKING LOVE STORY

Smith's family still doesn't know how their daughter contracted the Coronavirus. She had been working from home two weeks prior to the big day, in preparation for her wedding. She had been diligent about wearing masks, no matter where they went.

The pair began dating on Friday 13 April 2018. November 13 was the day Basset proposed to Smith in 2019, with the same day being set for their wedding day in November of 2020.

REMEMBERING FIANCE AND DAUGHTER

Basset has described his late fiance as "caring" with a desire to make the world a better place. She volunteered at "Operation Baby Watch", which runs a program where foster children who get hospitalized can have a sitter arranged for them.

Several donations have since been made in Smith's honor at South Plains College Alumni Association, which Oralia has taken comfort in as a true reflection of the caliber of person her daughter was.