Tech student dies after contracting COVID-19

A 19-year-old Louisiana Tech University student died Friday of COVID-19 complications.

David Lemaire, who was set to begin his sophomore year at Tech as a chemistry major, reportedly suffered from asthma and had been hospitalized in south Louisiana since early July.

Lemaire’s father, Mark David Lemaire, in a Facebook post on Thursday said David Lemaire began bleeding in his chest earlier that day and had surgery to control the bleeding.

“He remains very fragile now as his lungs recover and he continues ECMO,” the Thursday post read.

ECMO — extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — is a therapy that adds oxygen to one’s blood and pumps it through the body like the heart. The process takes place outside the body. It is also sometimes known as ECLS, or extracorporeal life support. ECMO does not cure heart or lung disease — it only provides time for the patient’s heart or lungs to heal.

A blood drive hosted by the Lemaire family in honor of David Lemaire was held last month at his alma mater — Teurlings Catholic High School.

Mark David Lemaire posted a picture of David Lemaire on Facebook on Friday afternoon, confirming his son’s death in the caption.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7,” Mark David Lamaire posted.

“David is finally healed and made whole again and is now with our Lord and Savior.”

David Lemaire’s younger brother Jacob had also been hospitalized and also spent time in an intensive care unit before reportedly being released and sent home on July 9.

Louisiana Tech President Les Guice addressed David Lemaire’s death in a statement.

“David was a special young man who had a positive impact on many people on our campus and in the Ruston community,” Guice said. “I thank those on our campus who offered and continue to offer support for David’s family during this difficult time.”