Man With Down Syndrome Dies Of Coronavirus On His Birthday

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

The coronavirus continues to leave bleak stories, the kind one would think are only typical of the script for a scary movie. Unfortunately they are our daily bread in many corners of the world.

It was a day that was supposed to be all joy and fun in the Reitz family. Her son Thomas, with Down syndrome, was 30 years old. However, there were no gifts, no cake, much less guests. The young man, like his sister and his parents, became infected with the coronavirus and died on the day of his birthday.

Nine days before his mother had left for the same reason. The virus took her first and then him. The young man was devastated to be separated from his mother. Mother and son had a very special union as the head of the family, Rudy Reitz, has recognized Buzzfeed after the sad outcome. "They were the world of each other," he said excitedly.

According to his stepfather, his wife went out of her way to keep the young man healthy, strong and active despite suffering from Down syndrome. This was never an impediment to doing things and getting up every day wanting to eat the world.

But the virus lashed out at the entire family. Carolyn Martins-Reitz was the first to leave. Soon after it was her son Thomas. Now father and daughter keep a pulse with the disease and lean on each other not only to overcome it but to console themselves after the painful loss of family.

Shortly before dying, the young man could at least hear in the background how they sang Happy Birthday to him. From the hospital they made sure that he could have a video call with 20 friends and a pizza was sent to the hospital to share with the health workers who were treating him.

Carolyn, the mother, became so ill that she died five days after her admission. She never learned that her son was also hospitalized, nor did he know that his mother died. Now they rest together. RIP.