On the eve of his 30th birthday, Thomas Martins succumbed to covid-19 at the Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, in New Jersey. Nine days before, and in the same hospital, her mother, Carolyn Martins-Reitz, had also died of coronavirus.
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At 55 years of age and with a pre-existing heart condition, Carolyn had developed a fever and was admitted for treatment after testing positive for coronavirus.
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Meanwhile, Thomas, who had Down’s SyndromeHe had reacted badly when his mother had to be hospitalized on March 20, Joni Lewin, a family friend told NJ.com. He had panicked and developed his own symptoms. He had to be admitted to the same hospital as his mother the day after he heard the news, later it was learned that he also had the virus.
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Thomas lived with Carolyn, her half-sister Sharon, and her stepfather Rudy Reitz, in Kearny.
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The young man had attended the Over 21s program at the Felicia School for Exceptional Children in Lodi, where he was immensely remembered. A video of Thomas’ “best moments” was uploaded to Facebook to remember him.
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Joni Lewin launched a campaign on GoFundMe where as of Tuesday more than 15,000 had been raised, for the cost of medical treatments and mother and son funeral costs.
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Useful information about coronavirus:
▪ If you belong to a vulnerable health group, please stay home.
▪ If you have traveled out of the country, please call 2-1-1 to find information on the need for a voluntary quarantine.
▪ Call 2-1-1 if you have symptoms of covid-19, such as: fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other breathing-related problems.
▪ Community members with urgent needs or symptoms of covid-19 in New York can call 1-800-962-1253 to find information and a phone book.
▪ If you are over 65 and need assistance with questions and special resources, please contact 1-800-962-1253
▪ More information about the tests here.
▪ More information published by Univision about the covid-19 is available here.
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