A Tinley Park mom says her daughter died just three days after the otherwise healthy teen was hospitalized with the coronavirus just before Christmas.
Sarah Simental, a Lincoln-Way East senior who just turned 18 last month, reported a mild headache for the first time on Dec. 16, her mother Deborah Simental said. The next day she started to feel overloaded and had a sore throat.
“My first thought was that these are symptoms of COVID,” said Deborah Simental.
Outside her home, Simental had only seen her boyfriend before she started having symptoms, her mother said.
On Friday, her symptoms continued as she developed a fever, chills, and vomiting.
On Saturday morning, her mother took her for a coronavirus test and that evening her results were positive.
Early Wednesday morning, Simental went to Silver Cross Hospital after starting to have pain in her left shoulder. While there, her oxygen levels dropped and Simental was placed on a ventilator and taken to intensive care.
Due to coronavirus protocols, Deborah Simental could not see her daughter while in hospital, but she did have a phone call with her when she was moved to the ICU.
“I said, ‘I’ll be fine’ and she knew she was going to miss Christmas – she loved Christmas,” said Deborah Simental. “The last words she said to me is, ‘Mom, it’s going to be okay.'”
On Christmas Eve, Simental said she could finally visit her daughter, but by that point the teenager was already sedated.
“I can only hope she heard me while I spoke to her,” said Deborah Simental.
On Christmas Day, the 18-year-old was transported by airlift to the University of Chicago Medical Center and died on December 26.
“It went that fast,” said Deborah Simental. “No underlying conditions at all. She was a very healthy 18 year old young lady. We were proactive with health, we had all gotten flu shots and knew the importance of it because I stressed it all the time when it comes to social aloofness. And for it.” make sure we had masks. “
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, Simental died of acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to the coronavirus.
“It took her. It took her – a perfectly healthy 18-year-old girl,” said Deborah Simental. “I still can’t get my head around it.”
Simental Family
The family said it remains unclear how Simental contracted the virus.
Her boyfriend’s mother, boyfriend, and father all tested negative after her diagnosis.
“I really have no idea how she got it,” said Deborah Simental.
A Tinley Park mom says her daughter died just three days after the otherwise healthy teen was hospitalized with the coronavirus just before Christmas. Regina Waldroup of NBC 5 reports.
Simental’s family said they hope sharing her story will help others see the severity of the pandemic.
‘There are people who don’t take it seriously. Her dad and I are here to tell you it’s real, ”said Deborah Simental. “There will be more holidays, birthdays, we can’t do all these events. You’ll have them again. This cost my daughter and we won’t be able to have them anymore.”
A visit for Simental is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at Orland Park, but due to coronavirus restrictions, only 10 people are allowed at a time and masks and social aloofness are required. The family also plans to hold a private funeral.
Simental is remembered for being free-spirited, friendly, and an animal lover who volunteered to volunteer at local animal shelters. Her obituary states that she was “loved by her furry best friend Bailey.”
In lieu of flowers, her family asks for donations to Tinley Park’s PAWS at pawstinleypark.org/donate.
“Please wear a mask, social distance. Don’t worry about getting together for these events, just wait until this is under control,” said Deborah Simental. “You’re not in the position her father and I are in now. No one should have to bury their child. No parent should have to watch their child go through what my daughter went through. It’s been a nightmare. ‘