Mother Of Late Bama Superfan Tweets Plea To Unvaccinated

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Pamela Ratliff sat with her family in DCH Regional Medical Center in early April, just down the hall from where her son, Alabama basketball superfan Luke Ratliff, was being treated for complications due to COVID-19.

Known affectionately as "Fluffopotamus," Ratliff had driven himself to the Tuscaloosa hospital after his pneumonia symptoms took a turn for the worst.

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As the North Carolina family made the 500-mile journey to Alabama, Pamela Ratliff recalled the text messages of "where are you, I need to see you."

Even though the family made it to Tuscaloosa and were allowed to see Ratliff, his mother lamented that he died alone. He was 23 years old.

"We were down the hall," she told Patch on Monday. "No holding his hand. I couldn’t kiss him goodbye. While his younger brother was with us, his older brother didn’t make it there in time to say goodbye. He was loved so much by so many, known to so many and yet passed away alone."

A larger-than-life personality who was beloved by the Crimson Tide faithful and fans of other schools, alike, Luke Ratliff's death from COVID-19 dealt a serious blow to many in Tuscaloosa. It also underscored a sobering reality for many young people in the University of Alabama community, as most deaths to that point had been older individuals and those suffering from underlying conditions.

Numerous memorials and tributes were offered up in the wake of the loss, but Ratliff's mother took to Twitter on Sunday, posting an impassioned plea for those who are unvaccinated.

In the thread, which was engaged by thousands, she described the helplessness of sitting in a small room and being told her child likely wouldn't survive the night. She also detailed "the breath being knocked out of you as your heart was ripped out of you and you fell to the floor unable to believe you’ll never have your child again."

Ratliff stressed her son wanted to receive the coronavirus vaccine, which was not made available to adults in the wider public until April 19 — a little more than two weeks after his death.

As Patch previously reported, DCH Health System maintains that roughly 90% of its coronavirus hospitalizations are patients who have not been vaccinated.

On the University of Alabama campus, a total of 16,380 doses of the vaccine have been distributed, according to the latest update from the UA System.

"Yes it’s a shot," she said of the vaccine Sunday on Twitter. "A controversial shot to some but think of those left behind. It’s not only your life it will save, it could be theirs also because death would be a welcome relief right now. Get the shot. For you and those you love or prepare your parents. Their lives will change forever. This is from a survivor of a siblings suicide. This is worse than that. Do what you can to save them the pain and your life. Your future is bright ..."

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