March 26, 2020
A day Katie Coelho will never forget. It’s the last day she saw her husband in person.
It’s also the day Jonathan, 32, who is positive for COVID-19, experiences an increase in difficulty breathing and is instructed to go to the hospital for monitoring and additional testing. Both of their children Braedyn, two, and Penelope, 10 months, test positive for the virus and medical professionals only assumed Katie has it, too.
At first, the family is quite concerned when the new coronavirus spread like wildfire across the country. Braedyn was born with a slew of medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, which meant he fell into the high-risk category.
So the family hunkers down, determined to ride out the virus. They aren’t sure how it invaded their family, because they are engaged in proper handwashing, social distancing and the kids and Katie do not leave the home for fear of Braedyn contracting it.
Jonathan’s first few symptoms that emerge are an incredibly strong, powerful headache that won’t subside and lethargy. He also becomes nauseous and couldn’t eat. He loses his sense of smell and taste.
Then comes the coughing that wrecks his body. He can’t catch his breath. His throat feels tight.
After he’s hospitalized, the family holds out hope that Jonathan’s recovery there will be quick. They have no idea that he will never leave the hospital and return home to them.
“We just ask for prayers at this time, as we are very worried and anxious. Jonathan is our entire world. Not only is he the most amazing father whose children worship him, he’s my best friend, my foundation and my heart hurts so much knowing he’s very sick, alone and I can’t help him. We just need him to fight through this.”
March 31, 2020
Jonathan is admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital to be intubated. Katie doesn’t have the chance to talk to him or hear his voice.
“We need him to get better, I need him the kids need him. Please just pray. We love him so very much and we need him.
April 9, 2020
Finally, the family can FaceTime. Jonathan is awake. All he can say is “Katie” and “I love you” and most heartbreakingly, “sorry.”
He’s panting, struggling to breathe normally. The doctors think it is because he has just come off of intubation and sedation. He needs to rest.
But at 10:30 p.m., Jonathan has to be intubated again. Katie is reassured that this is common for patients coming off a ventilator.
“Devastated isn’t even close to how I feel. Seeing him be so scared, but being able to see him awake made me feel like we were okay. He would be home soon, and then five hours later that hope was taken away. That pain is indescribable. I’m scared, I’m scared that he won’t come off the ventilator. I’m scared this nightmare will never end. I’m just so broken; seeing him was perfect. Having that taken away from me again was my worst nightmare. I’m trying to stay positive, I’m trying to have faith. But I feel like I have faith and hope and it’s stolen from me. I’m scared … I miss my husband, and I’m heartbroken. I need him to wake up, I need them to figure out how to wake him up without him panicking and it affecting his breathing. I’m breaking…”
April 10, 2020
Jonathan remains on the ventilator and is still sedated. He spikes a high fever and is administered antibiotics. His doctor remains optimistic that he will recover.
The trial runs off the ventilator are successful. But he is much more easily fatigued than ever before. Thankfully, his lungs look good and there is no sign of pneumonia.
“These days are rollercoasters. I go from confident that he’s coming home to a crying hysterical mess. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. I just need him awake. I’m praying this Holy Weekend brings big progress for Jonathan. Everyone who has ever met him can tell you what a kind, loving human being he is. He deserves to wake up, he deserves to be home with his family who love him more than anything. Wake up babe, we’re waiting.”
April 12, 2020
Jonathan has an infection and now is in kidney failure. Katie is told he’ll start dialysis in the morning. But the doctor’s and nurse’s words are haunting.
“(They) stated his ‘prognosis is poor’ and that he is ‘very very sick.’ I can’t live without him, my kids can’t live without him and I know he can’t live without us. Dialysis has to work, there’s no other option. Our hearts are broken and we are terrified, we were NEVER led to believe Jonathan was this sick. So today absolutely flattened me.”
Katie begs for more prayers for Jonathan.
“Please pray for Jonathan’s complete healing, pray the dialysis works and his fever is broken. Pray his lungs gain strength so he can come off the ventilator quickly. Pray his prognosis changes and that I will hear his voice again and see his eyes open. Pray for a miracle, my children need it. They cannot grow up without a dad, and I can’t lose my best friend and love of my life. Please pray…”
April 14, 2020
Katie thanks everyone around the world for praying for her husband. He is making small steps toward recovery. She can’t wait for him to get better and go home.
“COVID-19 has torn my family apart. It not only attacks the people who become sick, it attacks everyone who loves them as well. It’s been 19 days since I last saw my husband in person and 14 days since we spoke. I miss him so much, the kids miss their dad. My family is not complete and won’t be until he is home. I don’t understand why this is happening to Jonathan. He is one of the last people who should ever be fighting for his life.”
At this point, Jonathan has been on the ventilator for 18 days. Even though he’s responding to dialysis, his kidneys aren’t working yet.
The fluid he’s retaining is making him breathe harder. But he’s trying to talk, even with a tube in.
“I believe in my heart Jonathan is going to come home. Our story is not over, but I’m tired of this rollercoaster life we’ve been living. I see how confused Jonathan is and scared, I see how much he misses us. And this isn’t fair this happened to him. This isn’t okay, I know slow and steady is what we want. But I just want this over for him and I want to fast forward to the day I go and pick him up from the hospital and he will know he’s safe. I’m helpless, I can’t be with him and hold his hand. I’m not sure he even understands why I’m not there and why I have to go.”
April 22, 2020
After 28 days in the hospital and 20 days on a ventilator, Jonathan suffers from cardiac arrest and passes away. He actually had been improving the past few days and once again, Katie was given an optimistic prognosis.
The nurse tells her she has no idea what happened … or why.
She is allowed to sit with her husband in the intensive care unit. She sits there and cries. She tells him how much she and the kids love him.
When Katie is given Jonathan’s phone, she turns it on and there are her loving husband’s last words, written just for her and the kids. It probably took all his strength to capture his emotions, as he did it the day before he was intubated.
What she reads breaks her heart…
“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. Let Braedyn now 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…”
Katie shares on Facebook that the pain they feel after losing Jonathan to COVID-19 is indescribable.
“My heart is not even broken; it’s shattered. My kids and I will live the rest of our lives without Jonathan. And I don’t know how we’re going to do it.”
And with that, Katie thanks everyone who has reached out to her and her family to express their condolences to her and the kids. She explains that she isn’t doing okay and will never be okay again.
She needs to back away and grieve privately, and learn to live again without Jonathan.
“Those few words my husband blessed us with, are but a small fraction of who he is and what our family means to him … for now, our lives are destroyed and I have to start to glue the small pieces back together (if even possible).”
It is painful, but Katie pens her husband’s obituary. She describes him as a hard worker with a kind soul. He was a dedicated state employee in Connecticut for more than a decade.
“Jonathan had a smile that made anyone feel loved and a hug that made you feel secure. Jonathan was the most amazing husband to his wife, best friend and soulmate to Katie for seven years. He loved the life they had built together, but his most cherished accomplishments were his two children Braedyn (age two) and Penelope (age 10 months) … It’s unfair that Jonathan’s time with his family was cut so short. Jonathan only ever wanted to be there for his children and wife and this virus stole that away from him.”
An avid New England Patriots fan since birth, Jonathan is survived by his parents, Al and Donna Coelho, his sister Diana and brother-in-law Kevin Mallory, his sister Christina Coelho, his grandparents Alberto and Assuncao Coelho, his nephews and extended family.
Because Jonathan was the sole provider for the family, since Katie stayed home to care for and raise Braedyn and Penelope, friends have put together a GoFundMe page to help support them.
Our condolences also go out to Katie, Braedyn and Penelope during this unimaginably difficult time…
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