{"id":5985,"date":"2021-11-16T10:40:20","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T10:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/uncategorized\/couple-die-of-covid-19-weeks-before-wedding"},"modified":"2021-11-16T11:10:27","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T11:10:27","slug":"couple-die-of-covid-19-weeks-before-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/couple-die-of-covid-19-weeks-before-wedding","title":{"rendered":"Couple die of COVID-19 weeks before wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. <\/strong><\/span>CHICAGO (WLS) – A Chicago couple planned to get their COVID-19 vaccines before their wedding, but before they could do so, the two caught the virus and ended up dying one week apart.<\/p>\n

Luis Suarez and Norma Franco, who had been a couple for years, were finally going to make it official and marry just after Thanksgiving. But COVID-19 had other plans. Instead of a wedding, family members are now planning a memorial service after both died of the virus last month.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was his soul mate, I\u2019m gonna be honest with you. I felt the way they loved each other,\u201d said the couple\u2019s son, Angel Santos.Santos says his parents were not vaccinated but were planning to get the shot, so they could visit with family at their wedding. It was too late, however. Both came down with COVID-19 and both were hospitalized.<\/p>\n

Because Suarez and Franco were not married yet, once they got sick, they were separated in the hospital and unable to get information on or even communicate with each other.<\/p>\n

Both were eventually put on life support. They died one week apart.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels like a Romeo and Juliet story. It really does because\u2026 I feel like they were meant to be this whole time. Right when it\u2019s supposed to happen, something tragic like this happens,\u201d stepdaughter Imelda Gambia said.A joint funeral service was recently held for Suarez and Franco. She was dressed in her wedding gown and he in a white suit. Both wore the wedding rings they would have exchanged.<\/p>\n

Family members are speaking out now in the hope that the couple\u2019s story will convince others to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all worried about the side effects. Side effects of losing a family member that way, it\u2019s terrible. That\u2019s what will happen if you guys don\u2019t get vaccinated,\u201d Santos said.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2021 WLS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Gambia<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. CHICAGO (WLS) – A Chicago couple planned to get their COVID-19 vaccines before their wedding, but before they could do so, the two caught the virus and ended up dying one week apart. 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