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Life for Maria Ruelas will never be the same. In a matter of days the 35-year-old has had to deal with loss and new beginnings after the deaths of her father and step-mother.
“Within six days, I lost my father. And within eight hours, I lost my stepmother. And now I have five kids,” she told KTLA.
Karina Bonilla, 38, Ruelas’ step-mother, began feeling ill first. It’s believed she contracted COVID-19 from work.
“She went to work and in less than a week she started presenting symptoms,” Ruelas said. “She went home and then my father started getting sick.”
Within days, Humberto Ruelas-Rivas, 60, died due to complications from the virus.
The following day, hours after Ruelas-Rivas died, Bonilla also died.
“I hope this story doesn’t repeat again. It’s devastating.”
And now Ruelas is left to take care of her five younger siblings, ages 2 to 17, and a 30-year-old sister who is currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and suffered a stroke.
The 35-year-old, who is engaged, must now rethink her future as she plans to gain custody of her siblings.
“I’m happy to do it in the memory of my father.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover medical expenses and funeral costs.
This is such a tragic situation, and what’s even worse is that there are likely many stories like this one.
Share this story to show your support for Maria.
The post Couple dies days apart from COVID-19 leaving oldest daughter to care for 5 younger siblings appeared first on Newsner English.
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