Father and daughter share rough COVID struggle

Willie and Chartee Brennan want to share their COVID story. The father and daughter have both recovered from the virus. Chartee  was on her toes at the very start of the pandemic.  

"The first lockdown I was very cautious, I was very scared with my asthma I was afraid to leave the house but as things started to open back up," she shared during KUAM's The LINK. "I admit I got a little too comfortable at some point it could've been anything I could have touched, something - it was just unlucky I'm sure."

For Chartee's dad Willie, hearing his daughter was COVID positive was more than he could handle - and he said when it came to comforting his little girl, he didn't think about whether or not he would catch COVID.


"My wife came out crying, hysterical, scared, told me Chartee had tested positive," he said. "So me since it was outside, I wasn't wearing a mask, I'm in my safety bubble if you will, ran upstairs to my daughter's room and she was just sitting on the bed in tears and so scared looking so the father in me instinctive father in me was only worrying about my daughter, to my comfort her. Letting her know 'we'll get through this.' I went down and hugged her and I just squeezed her real tight and said 'don't worry, you'll get through this, youre not going to be alone. Mom and dad are going to be here."

Chartee said she felt guilty for giving her dad the coronavirus. Willie Brennan would test positive for COVID just days after his daughter did.


"It was hard,Chartee said. "I've seen my dad sick, but its never because I gave it to him. It was terrifying like everyone says you don't know how the virus can affect someone and how quickly it could be change, especially overnight so while I'm trying to get better, while I'm trying to get my spirits up in my room, of course, I'm worrying about my dad in the other room."

Willie Brennan said his COVID case was milder than his daughter's, he also thanks his family for supporting them as they fought the virus. He said video calling helped keep him close with his girl through the ordeal. He shared with us that Chartee's big turning point came after her fifth day of symptoms.

"I saw in her eyes one day, there was a glow and I made a joke ' man, you look so good today' and she started to smile," he said. "And that was the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced of this whole thing, it's just seeing my daughter smile. And it was rough man. This thing that I went through. I don't want anybody to walk in the shoes that I walked in and I'm very sorry I'm being emotional. It was tough, really tough."

Both Brennans said COVID is no hoax and they encourage island residents to wear masks, wash your hands, practice social distancing - and most importantly - stay home.