A Texas father of seven made an emotional video for his family shortly before he died of COVID-19.
Charles “Charley” Torres, 35, said his last words to his family in a heartbreaking clip that his wife shared before his funeral on February 27, according to ABC 13.
In the video, which was obtained by the outlet, Torres is seen struggling to breathe as he tells his family: “I love you with all my heart. I love you very much. Take care of your mother. I love you.”
Torres is survived by his parents, his wife, Ana Torres, his brother, Christopher Torres, and their seven children, Benito, Alyssa, Jeannette, Julius, Raymond, Janessa, and Lizzette, according to a GoFundMe page created in his honor.
Torres died last month on Valentine’s Day, about a month after he was initially admitted to the hospital on January 15, ABC 13 reported.
“He came in and never came out,” his father Alex Torres told ABC 13 affiliate KTRK-TV on Friday. “It’s like losing your shadow. No matter where you go, you have him supporting you all the time.”
His parents detailed to ABC 13 that he had underlying health problems and that he was the sole provider for his offspring.
According to his GoFundMe page, Torres was “the kind of guy to help you in case of need” and was part of “many organizations.”
While in high school, Torres served as an Eagle Scout, added ABC 13, and also became a firefighter with the Manvel Volunteer Fire Department. Torres was also a member of Knights of Columbus Council 6403 and most recently served as a Disaster Assistance Specialist for FEMA.
“He has always been a servant. He has done so many things for people,” his mother, Joanie Torres, told the outlet. “We always say, ‘Charley’s heart is bigger than his body,’ and he’s that kind of person.”
However, his family was the most important thing to him, according to his parents.
“He took [his family] everywhere. He did everything with him,” they told ABC 13.
Information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, some data may have changed since its publication. While Health tries to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.
