Arnold Herrera died Sunday at UI Health. His relatives said he had no underlying condition they knew, and they remain stunned by how quickly his condition worsens.
Herrera was an assistant for whom heaven was the limit.
“A lot of energy, just …” I’ll do it because I’ll do it, “because I can do it. That attitude” I can, “said his brother, Pablo Portilla.
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Arnold’s brother said his younger brother never saw a problem he didn’t try to fix, including in the garage, where he worked in cars to make a living.
But on Saturday, Herrera’s donor spirit was taken over by COVID-19.
“I kept praying that I was better because I knew I was always strong, you know,” Portilla said. “It wasn’t in God’s plan.”
Pablo said Arnold was diagnosed last week and was recovering at home, but his condition worsened hours after the new year sounded.
“He told us‘ Happy New Year ’and unfortunately after us he had complications a full day,” Portilla said. “He was in pain and we took him to the hospital, and that’s it.”
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Arnold played guitar at his church in Little Village and graduated from Benito Juarez High School, where he participated in the ROTC junior program.
His death comes with a warning that his family hopes they will consider others.
“It doesn’t discriminate age. It just happens. And we should all be careful. We shouldn’t think, ‘Oh, yeah, because I’m young, it won’t happen to me’ like no, ‘” Portilla said.
Arnold Herrera would have turned 20 in March. Records show that he is the eleventh person in Illinois under the age of 20 to die from COVID-19.
Pablo Portilla accepts donations in memory of his brother to GoFundMe.
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