By Bob Allen
Dallas Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan, 42, died Oct. 8, according to a statement from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
“It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 a.m.,” according to the press release.
“Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola,” the statement continued. “He fought courageously in this battle. Our professionals, the doctors and nurses in the unit, as well as the entire Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas community, are also grieving his passing. We have offered the family our support and condolences at this difficult time.”
Duncan’s diagnosis, the first in the United States, sent shockwaves through the Dallas community amid details he was originally turned away from treatment and may have had contact with dozens of people before he got worse and returned and was admitted into isolation.
Duncan’s fiancée, 54-year-old Troh, was baptized this summer into the membership of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. George Mason, Wilshire’s senior pastor, says Duncan and Troh broke off a romance years ago but recently decided to get back together and get married.
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