TPI worker dies from COVID-19

Kyle Brown knew he was sick, so he did the only thing he knew he could do: go to doctor.

Based on his symptoms — labored breathing, strong headache, tightness in chest and a high fever — Brown and his wife, Pamela Dennen, both of Marshalltown, presumed he had contracted COVID-19.

They were right.

After initially being denied testing, the 54-year-old maintenance worker for TPI Composites later died in the hospital on April 29, about 12 days from the time Brown began to show symptoms, Times-Republican first reported on Saturday.

One week before his death, Brown learned he did, indeed, test positive.

Brown’s story circulates online

Brown imparted his struggles to get tested on Facebook 11 days before he died. As of Sunday, the post has been shared more than 1,000 times and accumulated about as many reactions. Many shared their condolences and sympathies for his family, as well as frustrations surrounding public health’s testing requirements.

On the Facebook post, Brown alleged his caregivers in Marshalltown — specifically, UnityPoint Health — refused to test him for COVID-19 because he did not work at a meat packing plant and was under the high risk age of 65. Brown was later tested at Newton Clinic.

To maintain the privacy of its patients, UnityPoint Health Marketing Communications Specialist Sean Hylton told Newton News in a statement he could not confirm nor deny Brown was admitted to the Marshalltown health care provider.

“Since COVID-19 is a new, novel disease, recommendations and guidance from the CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health are changing as they learn more throughout this pandemic,” Hylton said. “UnityPoint Health is following their direction, which includes screening and testing.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the individuals and families dealing with this illness,” he continued. “That’s why it’s extremely important to help stop the spread of the disease by washing your hands, wearing a mask and social distancing.”

Employee of an essential business

Still, Brown and his wife thought he would be eligible for testing.

After all, he did work for an essential business and the largest employer in Jasper County, whose factory workforce is made up of more than 1,000 people. Brown told his Facebook friends on April 18 how he believed he had been exposed by "numerous people that tested positive" in the TPI Newton plant.

In Marshall County, where Brown lived, there have been 603 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two reported deaths, according to www.coronavirus.iowa.gov. Jasper County, where Brown worked, has a total of 193 confirmed cases and one reported death. As of Sunday, more than 170 Iowans have died from COVID-19.

Brown died four days after his wind blade manufacturing employer tested en masse 882 of its workers for COVID-19. TPI informed its workers of the test results almost a week later and had also recognized Brown’s death.

“Some of you may also be aware of the tragic passing of one of our team members, Kyle Brown,” TPI said in a message to co-workers this past weekend. “We are deeply saddened by this loss and are mourning with his family. We will keep you informed as additional information is available.”

About 150 TPI workers have tested positive for COVID-19, so far. The company has halted its production and plans to repeatedly test employees. Those who tested positive — about 20 percent of the plant — have been ordered to quarantine. TPI is working with the state on a staggered reopening approach.

Frustration at every turn

Since April 24, Dennen has been experiencing symptoms, though not as severe as Brown’s, she told Newton News. The Marshalltown woman assumes she has COVID-19 and has self-isolated herself. Dennen does not expect she will seek testing after experiencing her husband’s attempts to secure testing for himself.

“I would only go to the ER if I was having trouble breathing,” Dennen said. “It would be hard for me to trust they would do the right thing.”

However, Times-Republican reported Dennen does not want UnityPoint to get blamed for Brown’s death, reasoning the health officials were just following the state’s guidelines. She also does not want Brown’s death to become a cause or political statement to drive bitterness.

“Because that’s not who he was,” Dennen said. “But I also feel like a lot of things went wrong, and a lot of things could have been done better. His story deserves to be told. If you’re struggling to breathe at all, I feel like you should be able to get treatment … What it felt like at the time was that nobody really took us seriously.”

It was frustrating, she added, to try to make people take their worries seriously. Dennen remembered talking to nurses on the phone in the emergency room and describing her husband’s symptoms. They told her Brown’s symptoms warrants a 911 call. “He needs to come in now,” Dennen recalled the nurses saying.

Thinking Brown would be automatically admitted to the emergency room, Dennen was surprised to learn they would be turned away. No admittance. At the very least, Dennen thought health officials should have kept him in the emergency room and monitor him. Brown, struggling to breathe, had to go home.

“I don’t remember which ER said this, but one ER said, ‘This is COVID, go home and tough it out,’” Dennen said. “At the time it felt terrible, and now it even seems more terrible.”

Grieving and recovering

Dennen remembers her husband very well. In fact, Brown is super easy to talk about, she said. The two met on eharmony.com (“That’s a whole ‘nother story”) and had been dating long distance for five years while Dennen lived in Chicago.

Neither one of them thought they would meet — and fall in love with — another person this way. The couple eventually moved in together at a home in Marshalltown, just three weeks before tornadoes hit the city and caused massive damage to the community. Their house was hit but was since restored.

Brown was also a man of strong faith, and it came about during a difficult time in his life. After struggling for years with addiction and even serving prison time, Brown became a Christian. Once he was free from his afflictions and developed a new outlook, Brown changed his life for the better.

“He was very passionate about his walk with the Lord and he was so grateful he had a life,” Dennen said. “He just loved everything. He restored his relationships with his children and he was just a very happy person. He was always smiling and he was very funny. He loved Iowa and he Marshalltown.”

Michele Williamson, of California, said Brown was also a huge fan of the Iowa State Cyclones and Los Angeles Rams, and everybody who knew him certainly knew that. She loved how her cousin made a complete turn around in his life, saying she “admired him” for that.

“The person he became — the man he became — is who we’re all gushing about,” Williamson said. “He endured such trouble and heartache, and then he was able to overcome it and just be such a good person. Everyone’s life that he touched he made a difference.”

Dennen added, “He was so gentle and so loving and thoughtful. He paid attention to the little details … He really was that good of a person. He was that wonderful.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com