TRUMAN — Larry and Annette Bremer have the dubious distinction of having been the first positive COVID-19 cases in Martin County. After attending a Lenten Service on March 11, Annette came home feeling ill. A few days later, Larry took her to the emergency room and she eventually received the news: she tested positive for the virus that’s been spreading around the globe.

Larry also was tested, having experienced some lightheadedness and fatigue a few weeks prior. He was never placed in isolation due to recovering before he knew he had it.

While the couple is unsure of how they contracted the virus, they are grateful to be coming out on the other side of it. The Bremers shared their experience, recounting the emotional, mental and spiritual side of it all.

“I really would have put my money on influenza,” she said. “I was not anticipating hearing that I was positive for COVID-19. Even after I tested negative for influenza A and B, I still didn’t think I was going to have it, but the test proved me wrong.

“It was early enough into this that there wasn’t a lot of talk about it around here at that time. I have never really been scared by it, I have a very strong faith and belief in God and I knew I was going to be OK, and if this what was going to take me I was going to be fine.

“Then I got really sick and then I just spent the next eight to ten days sleeping. So Larry really had to watch it and it was a different story for him compared to me.”

Larry shared, “When the influenza tests came back negative, I thought “Oh, it is going to be COVID-19,” because she was just sick, and she doesn’t get really sick. I can’t say that it was fear, but it was just a question of how long this was going to go on. It was more concern than fear.

“When they had me tested, they figured out that mine happened back in February. So when I went through it, I didn’t have any emotion about it because I didn’t even know I had it.”

The Bremer family also was impacted by the news, knowing that Annette already had respiratory problems before the virus. One daughter lives in the area with family, while two others live elsewhere in the state.

“The girls were very worried,” she said. “This breathing problem that I have is very concerning and so they were quite worried about the situation.

“I feel for these families, I was in the hospital and you can’t have any visitors. Today our oldest daughter was saying how hard it was for her to be away from me while I was in Mankato and she just wanted to be there. I feel for the other families who are dealing with loss and they can’t be together to process it.”

The Bremers also noted that their faith has played a role in dealing with the situation.

“I’ve said from the beginning that I don’t know how people go through these things without faith,” said Annette. “My faith has remained unshaken, and I feel stronger in my faith through all of this.

“I know our church family is there for us and our family as we are for them. There are 13 people within our two congregations that have been diagnosed, and it’s almost overwhelming to think about.”

Despite the ups and downs, the Bremers are excited to be out of quarantine. Martin County Sheriff Jeff Markquart has shared that, as the weeks pass, more positive cases will be coming out of quarantine and they have all the rights and freedoms of anyone else in the community. Larry and Annette look forward to getting back to life as usual, though they understand why some community members might be fearful.

“I think it just takes time for everyone to realize that the people who have had this virus will be coming back into the community,” said Larry. “If I had seen someone out on the street three weeks ago who I knew had tested positive, I don’t know if I would have ever processed the thought that they were done with isolation and can be out now. I may have been just as concerned as people are now.”

Annette will be returning to work today and while she won’t see many co-workers who are working from home, she is ready to get more done. She recommends that people who do test positive simply focus on resting and take care of themselves.

“I think people really have to take the social distancing seriously,” she said. “Stay home and don’t go out. I’m hoping people start to realize just how risky that is.”

“I think everybody really needs to appreciate our healthcare workers,” said Larry. “We just can’t imagine what they deal with every day, wondering what they’re going to take home to their families. We ended up in the Fairmont ER three times in two days and the staff there was just phenomenal and very kind.”