COVID-19 struck 2 members of this KY family, but ‘how fortunate we were,’ daughter says.

Recently out of quarantine in the Breathitt County community of Wolverine, Courtney Frazier and her father Mark Hamblin said they are among the Kentuckians who have recovered from a mild case of coronavirus.

To their knowledge, the father and daughter are the only positive cases reported in Breathitt County and both were symptom free as of Wednesday. They were monitored closely by local health department officials. Their story is one of recovery.

With nearly 700 cases reported in Kentucky and at least 20 deaths, they are grateful.

“How fortunate we were... to not have severe symptoms, “ Frazier, 23, said Wednesday.

“I’m well now,” said Hamblin, 49.

Courtney Frazier’s 16-day quarantine ended on March 30. The quarantine for Hamblin, his wife Rena Hamblin, and their 12-year-old nephew ended on March 31. Health officials did not recommend that Rena Hamblin, 49, and their nephew get a test because their symptoms were so mild.

Courtney’s husband Dustin did not have any symptoms nor did his family in nearby Perry County, even though they were exposed to Courtney at a family birthday dinner before she had noticeable symptoms.

Dustin Frazier stayed in quarantine separately from his wife with multiple family members in Perry County until March 29.

Courtney is in veterinary school at Auburn University in Alabama. The young couple had a spring break trip to New York City planned for months and as they prepared to depart on March 9, there was no sign that it would become a coronavirus hot spot.

Broadway theaters and restaurants and stores in the city were all open when they arrived there and Frazier said only 40 positive cases had been reported.

“Everything started to escalate very quickly while we were there,” she said. “Everything started spiraling into chaos.”

The couple returned to Breathitt County on Friday March 13 and Courtney felt fine.

Saturday morning, she woke up feeling “crummy” as if she had slept poorly. By Saturday night, her eyes were glassy and her temperature was 101.4.

She called and went to Hazard Appalachian Regional Hospital, where after ruling out the flu, officials got approval from the state to test her for the coronavirus.

She and her parents and their nephew self-isolated immediately in Breathitt and six days later, received word that she tested positive.

“That’s when your heart just drops into your stomach,” said Hamblin, a heavy equipment operator.

Courtney had a deep cough and fatigue, sleeping 12 hours a day and still feeling tired. She was winded when she climbed stairs. She lost her sense of smell and taste.

But she said she never had to be hospitalized.

Hamblin started getting symptoms about March 16 and was advised to drive an hour to Winchester for a test after having shortness of breath, a fever, and chest tightness. He was sore all over. His legs and hips ached. He tested positive.

“I never did lose my appetite,” he said. “I bet you I’ve gained ten pounds here at the house.”

Frazier’s mother Rena Hamblin, a librarian at Breathitt County High School, had a cough and was a bit winded. Their nephew developed a cough but neither had a fever so they were not tested.

Frazier said she was surprised by how differently coronavirus affects each person who contracts it. In retrospect, she and her father wish they had kept a daily journal of their symptoms in case it might help future patients. They are recommending that to others.

“I want people to be appropriately prepared but not panicked,” Courtney said, “ To reiterate what the governor says every day, we are going to get through this together.”

Both Frazier and her mother posted on Facebook that she had tested positive. Some people questioned online whether they were being truthful until Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Breathitt County had two positive cases.

Despite the initial online negativity, the family said the community has rallied around them, dropping off meals outside their home even when they didn’t ask.

Local health care workers were vigilant in caring for them, the family said, and they were told that Beshear was checking on their individual cases and others.

Rena Hamblin is grateful for that and for the fact that the virus didn’t take a greater toll on her family.

“I just give the good lord all the praise and glory,” she said.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 10:29 AM.