Coronavirus: Couple Dies Within Two Weeks of Each Other Leaving Behind Two Young Sons

HOUSTON, TX – A Houston family Is facing an incredible loss after losing mom and dad within two weeks of each other to coronavirus.

“We have no words to describe it … no words” said grandmother Rita Marquez-Mendoza. “We’re Christian people and we accept the will of God, and we know that if this was his will, that he’s going to guide us through it.”

According to CBS7, 14-year-old Isaiah and 11-year-old Nathan Garcia lost their mother on July 2 from COVID-19. Naomi Esquivel was 39-years-old and had underlying medical conditions. According to her family, Naomi was only hospitalized for one day before she passed away.

Nathan and Isaiah attended their mother’s funeral along with their father 44-year-old Carlos Garcia. 

Carlos was hospitalized for kidney failure later in the month as he recovered from coronavirus. On July 17th he was found unresponsive after only one day in the hospital.

“He had just spoken to his son at 11 o’clock. They pronounced him dead at 12:24,” said Jacob Mendoza, Esquivel’s younger brother.

Both Naomi and Carlos died alone in the hospital as they dealt with their underlying conditions and the impact of the coronavirus. 

"I didn't get to say goodbye to my mom, or my dad now, and that's what hurts me the most right now," said Isaiah.

"Dying now is more tragic than it was before because you die alone, you die alone without your family members," said Rita Marquez-Mendoza, Naomi’s mother.

Isaiah and Nathan will now be raised by their mother’s brother, Jacob Mendoza. Mendoza has four kids himself.

"I love them with all my heart, and I know that this is what their parents would have wanted, was for me to take them in," said Mendoza.

“At least since [my father] passed, at least we got to be with our family,” said Isaiah. “We didn’t have to go to an orphanage or anything, because I’d rather be here than anywhere else right now.

A GoFundMe has been set up to cover part of the boy’s living expenses as they grapple with the loss of their parents. As of Wednesday afternoon, the fund has raised more than $36,000.