Warr Acres Mother Of 3 Loses Battle To COVID-19; Fundraiser Launched To Help With Funeral Costs

A local family is mourning the loss of a mother who recently lost her battle to COVID-19.

Alanna Jankas died September 25 after battling COVID-19 for several weeks.

The family is struggling to make sense of it all.

“A lot of ups, downs, trying to just come to realization of what happened,” said Jankas’ husband, John. “I’m in a haze. Some moments are OK, some moments I just lose it.”

John said he believes he brought the virus home after training a new co-worker. He first tested positive followed by Alanna at the end of August.

“It was like OK, we got COVID, we are pretty sick,” said John. “She (Alanna) was able to get up and walk around and still do stuff.”

After Jankas passed out, the family struggled to find an ICU bed. They finally found one at Integris’ Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon.

Things went from bad to worse on September 9 when family said Jankas was sedated and placed on a ventilator.

“Nothing made sense, time stood still. My heart was breaking but I knew she had a chance because she is a fighter,” said John. “She had the wherewithal that day to even be Alanna to say, ‘I’ll be out of here before you know it.’ And we all thought she would be.”

Jankas died September 25 at 11:50 p.m., leaving behind a husband and three children ages 9, 7 and 4.

John told News 9 his wife had no underlying health conditions.

The entire family, who is unvaccinated, all contracted the virus.

“The virus is real, the virus is taking lives, it is destroying families,” said John. “Do what you need to do in your circle. If you’re around people that are susceptible, if it’s family or people you are around a lot, get vaccinated. Protect the people you love.”

Jankas was hospitalized for 16 days before her lungs were no longer able to work on their own, family said.

“Thank you for my wonderful children and the time we had, although short,” said John. “Every second of this 11 years, 9 months has been amazing.”

A GoFundMe page has been launched to help pay for funeral expenses.