A Valley man is left to wonder why his family has been hit so hard by COVID-19 after his father became the latest family member to pass away after catching the virus.
Ricardo Aguirre told ABC15 his dad, Jose De Jesus Aguirre Sanchez, 67, died on September 11th. His funeral took place over the weekend. Aguirre said his dad had contracted COVID-19 in May and while on a ventilator, suffered a stroke. Aguirre also believes his dad received questionable care while in a rehab facility, where he said his father suffered a heart attack. Suffering from several complications, he ultimately passed away at home.
"I'm hurting, man," Aguirre said. "I'm tired."
Aguirre told ABC15 his father had diabetes, but it was under control. After contracting COVID-19 in May, he was on a ventilator for nearly three weeks.
"He was my right hand, I was his right hand," Aguirre said.
Including extended family, Aguirre told ABC15 nine relatives have passed away since May after catching the virus.
RELATED: Latino families tired of facing COVID-19 alone in Arizona
"Why us?" Aguirre said. "What did I do to deserve this? The devil always wants you to think that. I have trust in God. I have faith that he gave me this because he knows that I'm going to be able to be OK."
Aguirre said he, his wife and children also contracted COVID-19 around the same time. Given the toll it took on him and his family, his catering company has also gone out of business. Initially started in 2012, Aguirre said Tamales y Tacos Puebla is not currently operating, as he lost a contract with a kitchen he used to cook.
"We've been dealt a bad hand, but I know there's something else coming," he said.
Aguirre wants other people to take the virus seriously. A GoFundMe page,initially started to help his business, is now collecting funds to help with funeral expenses.