KET show pays tribute to Kentucky's health-care workers, noting some who have died from the pandemic, including eight nurses

Nurses killed by Covid-19 and recognized on "Kentucky Health" were, from top left: Michael Rodriguez, Bonnie Hall, Michelle Wade, Debra Daniels, Connie Luscher, Dana Davis, Susan Whittymore and Sharon Combs.

A Kentucky Educational Television show paid tribute to Kentucky's health-care workers and honored some who have died from the Covid-19 pandemic, including eight nurses. May is Nurses Month. 

Delanor Manson, CEO of the Kentucky Nurses Association, told "Kentucky Health" host Dr. Wayne Tuckson in a show that aired in March about eight Kentucky nurses who have died since July. They were:

Bonnie Hall, a 61-year-old nurse from Flat Lick in Knox County, who worked at Pineville Community Hospital for 26 years. "She was one of those people who, her whole life, all she ever wanted to be was a nurse," said Manson. 

Dana Davis, 51, who worked at Baptist Health Louisville and was Nurse of the Year in 2018. Manson said Davis was the first Baptist Health employee to die from the coronavirus.

Michael Rodrigues, 67, who cared for Covid-19 patients at Norton Audubon Hospital, had worked there for 26 years. "His death really devastated the hospital and the entire community," Manson said. 

Michelle Wade, 53, who worked for U of L Health-Jewish Hospital. Manson said Wade's son, whom she was very close to, was in school to be a nurse. 

Sharon Combs, a 63-year-old from Tyner in Jackson County, who worked at the Owsley County Health Care Center for 26 years, was known as "Mother of the Facility."  

Connie Luscher, an 87-year-old nurse who spent 33 years at Our Lady of Peace in Louisville, where she became the director of nursing. "She was a nurse's nurse," said Manson, who was a friend of Luscher.

Deborah Daniels, 63, of Ashland, had worked at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, which closed about a year ago. Manson said Daniels was also a realtor and owned an antique shop. 

Susan Whittymore, a 61-year-old nurse from London, who worked at Baptist Health.

Manson said the nurses' association has a Nightingale tribute program that honors nurses who have died. She said prior to the pandemic, a representative would attend a nurses' memorial service and read a poem about nurses and present the family with a rose. Since the pandemic, she said they have asked families of nurses who have died to let them know when they plan to have a service so that a nurse honor guard can attend at that time.

The Guardian and Kaiser Health News have published an article, "Lost on the Frontline," that aims to count and honor every U.S. health-care worker who died after contracting the coronavirus on the job in the first year of the pandemic. It says that as of April, Kentucky had lost 52 health-care workers to Covid-19.