Paul Blackwell, 62, and Rose Mary Blackwell, 65, died Sunday after two weeks of intensive care and several days in ventilators at Harris Methodist Hospital, their son Shawn Blackwell told CNN.
Both were teachers in the Grand Prairie Independent School District in Grand Prairie, Texas. Rose Mary was a second-grade teacher and had just completed her twentieth year at Travis World Language Academy. Paul was a physical education teacher and football coach at Fannin Middle School.
Blackwell said his parents worked until they got sick in December. The family made the difficult decision after several days of retiring from life support after doctors confirmed there was no chance of recovery, according to Blackwell.
“Doctors said they hadn’t seen any progression and that they were slowly declining in their overall vital functions,” Blackwell said. “He got to the point where he was so far away and couldn’t do anything else.”
“My brother and I came to the conclusion of letting them go together in peace. They were together and holding hands. My brother and I also held my father’s hands too, so the four of us held each other’s hands. hands as they were both removed from the fan. ”
The Grand Prairie Independent School District expressed its condolences to the family and the school community in a post on social media Monday.
“I just want people to know that I’m proud of the people who were my mom and dad and proud of the things they achieved,” Blackwell said. “They were the definition of the great parents and grandparents of history.”