US-based Katie Coelho lost her 32-year-old husband and father of her two children to coronavirus without even getting to say goodbye. Just when she was recovering from the nightmare and collecting his belongings from the hospital, she came across a heartbreaking note he left behind.
On April 22, Jonathan Coelho died after battling for his life for almost a month. Soon after, Katie was informed about her husband’ death, she rushed to the hospital in Danbury, Connecticut, US. However, he had died by then.
While collecting Jonathan's belongings from the hospital, Katie found an emotional note on his phone Jonathan left behind for her and their children.
In the note published by American media agency BuzzFeed, Jonathan wrote that he is "very lucky" and that 33-year-old Katie has "given me the best life I could have ever asked for".
According to the Buzzfeed’s news report, the couple has two children – two-year-old Braedyn and 10-month-old Penelope.
In the note, Jonathan added that he is "proud" to be Katie's husband, and Braedyn and Penny's father.
"I love you guys with all my heart and you've given me the best life I could have ever asked for. I am so lucky, it makes me so proud to be your husband and the father to Braedyn and Penny. Katie, you are the most beautiful caring nurturing person I've ever met.. You are truly one of a kind...make sure you live life with happiness and that same passion that made me fall in love with you. Seeing you be the best mom to the kids is the greatest thing I've ever experienced," the note read.
In the piece, Jonathan also asked Katie to pass on his message to the children: "Let Braedyn know he's my best bud and I'm proud to be his father and for all the amazing things he's done and continues to do. Let Penelope know she's a princess and can have whatever she wants in life. I'm so lucky. Don't hold back, and if you meet someone, know that if they love you and the kids, that I love that for you. Always be happy no matter what.”
Jonathan tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 26 and had a cardiac arrest on April 22 prior to his death. Out of the 28 days that he spent in the hospital, Jonathan was on a ventilator for 20 days.
He was an essential worker at a courthouse and reportedly worked amidst the coronavirus outbreak, according to Buzzfeed.
Social media users shared their reactions to the emotional note.
Tweep @Maria_8419 posted: “Ok this is too much. I hope it brings her some peace later on life. Cause it must be intensely painful to read it now when the only thing in the world you want is for that person to come back. Just heartbreaking.”
Twitter user @oceanbike wrote: “May Jon Coelho Rest In Peace. May his wife and kids find the strength to keep going without him.”
Some like tweep @dabertime even resonated with the story: “My dad wrote one of these type of notes years ago, which we found after he passed. I relived all the feelings reading this one. That's not a bad thing, just a sad acknowledgement of the losses and putting real people to the numbers. Thank you for sharing.”
The US has been one of the worst hit countries by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Currently, over 959,000 people have tested positive while the death toll surged past 54,000.
