A Texan couple who did not trust the COVID-19 vaccine have died from the coronavirus and left four children orphaned.
Lydia Rodriguez, 42, was hospitalised with COVID-19 over a month ago before dying with the virus on Monday.
Her 49-year-old husband Lawrence died of complications with COVID-19 on 2nd August.
The couple, from the city of La Marque in the US state of Texas, were both unvaccinated and sceptical of the new jabs, according to Lydia’s cousin Dottie Jones.
However, she added that the family were very careful during the pandemic and always wore masks and tried not to go out often.
Jones said: “Before she got intubated, one of the last things she told her sister was ‘please make sure my children get vaccinated’.
“They didn’t believe in vaccines, and you try to talk to them, and she just didn’t like that. Didn’t trust it, I guess.
“She would be there for her kids right now if she had been vaccinated.”
Jones added: “I just am tired of the anti-vax rhetoric that is causing so many, like my cousin and her family, to not get vaccinated.”
A GoFundMe page was set up by Jones while the couple was in intensive care to help the family cope with the medical bills.
As of 18th August, the crowdfunding page has raised USD 49,430 of its USD 50,000 goal.
According to the GoFundMe page: “Lawrence and Lydia Rodriquez, from La Marque, Texas, were admitted to UTMB-Victory Lakes on July 12th.”
The couple, Lydia and Law Rodriguez who didn’t trust vaccines and died from COVID, posing with their four kids in Texas, USA. The couple, Lydia and Law Rodriguez who didn’t trust vaccines and died from COVID, posing with their four kids in Texas, USA.
Jones said: “Our hearts are just broken. We hurt for the kids. We hurt for them and we just want them better and home, adding: “Please vaccinate. It is our desire that no other family have to endure this preventable scenario.”
The couple leaves behind twins, 18, and two children aged 16 and 11.
Jones said they all tested positive for the virus as well, but only experienced mild or no symptoms.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: James King, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.