PORTLAND (WGME) -- Eight Mainers have died with COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, according to the Maine CDC.

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While it's a rare occurrence, it can leave families in shock and heartbroken.

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Eager and ready for normalcy, Arthur Mitchell got his second dose of the Moderna vaccine on March 8.

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“Counted out his two weeks to be fully vaccinated, was very excited about that,” daughter Margaret Staggs said.

Staggs says once the family was fully vaccinated, they finally relaxed after a year of restrictions.

“We probably all took a deep breath and let our guard down a little bit,” Staggs said.

About four weeks later, Staggs, her husband and her father all tested positive for COVID-19.

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“So we were one of those small majority that become positive afterwards,” Staggs said.

Her dad’s oxygen levels were low, which sent him to the hospital.

“It was very important to my family that he wasn’t by himself,” Staggs said.

He spent four days on a ventilator but got worse.

“My dad was a fighter,” Staggs said.

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On May 6, Staggs was allowed to be by his side to say goodbye.

“It was really hard to realize that he was going to lose that battle,” Staggs said.

Staggs is a nurse, and while she says the vaccine does a lot of good, it’s never 100 percent.

“When your loved one is that person, it’s hard,” Staggs said.

As the state continues to lift restrictions, she’s left with memories of her dad, a former high school teacher, avid fly fishermen and talented woodworker with a laugh she’ll never forget.

“Just remember that not everybody is going to go back to the normal that they knew before, because it’s affected too many people,” Staggs said.