CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- When Shante Benfatto left Clarksville, Tenn. in February for a planned trip to South Korea, she did not know she would not be able to return due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The retired Army vet, wife, mother of four and new grandma had graduated from Austin Peay State University and had time and special veteran travel accommodations to visit her oldest daughter Kayla, 22, her 1-year-old granddaughter, Aria, and her son-in-law, an active duty soldier stationed in South Korea.
Benfatto arrived in South Korea on Feb. 24, and at that time, there wasn’t much concern for coronavirus in the United States.
Shante Benfatto”We had many plans to visit all of South Korea and possibly Thailand,” she said. “I planned on returning home on March 31. I was here for about two and a half weeks when I realized I might not get to come back.”
When the Army base in Korea began restriction for her son-in-law, who was allowed to go to work and return to their off-post housing, Benfatto started closely watching what was going on in the United States and getting reports from her husband and children.
“At this point there weren’t’ many cases,” she said. “I honestly felt we were ahead of the game … That quickly changed as more soldiers were testing positive and more stipulations were placed on soldiers.”
President Trump confirmed on Twitter on March 18 that Canada and the United States closed their border to non-essential traffic.
“The strangest thing about being here is that it is all so unfamiliar,” Benfatto said. “Everything is in a different language and it is impossible to find my way around. We are only allowed to go to the commissary to get essentials and to the exchange.”
When she left, she knew she’d be back in time for her son Conner’s 16th birthday but realized quickly that wouldn’t be possible.
“The possibility of not being able to be home for my youngest son to celebrate his birthday, on April 12, which falls on Easter, is devastating,” she said. “Of course he tells me he understands but he would tell me that to spare hurting my feelings. My husband has been great with planning what he can to make his birthday special, but I got the idea the other day to ask the community to pitch in to help to make his day that much more special. I feel awful and it literally breaks my heart.”
Shante said her son Conner ‘is a great kid.’
“He is very sweet and loves all of our pets (he actually calls them his children). He loves his video games and when he grows up he wants to be a chef (like his Uncle Paul),” she said.
Anyone who would like to send Conner a card or reach out to Shante to see how to help can contact her via Facebook here.
Until the family reunites in the unknown future, they will keep in touch using FaceTime and photos.
“I haven’t made a long term plan because honestly if I try to plan too far ahead my anxiety gets the better of me,” Benfatto said. “The Army definitely taught me to take every day as it comes. I have no control over what could happen and I really try to remember that.”
Benfatto never imagined a trip to South Korea would be extended due to a global pandemic.
Despite the situation, she said she counts her blessings.
“The silver lining in all this is that I am quarantined with my granddaughter, Aria, who is 1 years old. She is learning new things everyday and says a new word almost every day,” she said. ” These times are precious moments that I am grateful for. It is bittersweet.”
Mark Benfatto, her husband and her three children- Alexa, 14, Conner, 15 and Brandyn, 19, anxiously wait for her return to Clarksville.
“I miss them terribly,” she said. ” The unknown of this isolation is the worst part. It really doesn’t feel real.”
