MESA, AZ – Arizona is recording a record high in COVID-19 numbers Thursday. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 9,913 new cases and 297 additional deaths since Wednesday.
These numbers represent real people and families in Arizona, including the Lettuce family in Mesa.
Rogelio Lechuga, nicknamed “Ro”, died of COVID-19 on 26 October. He was 44 years old.
His wife Susan said Rogelio was a family man. Born in Mexico, he moved here as a child and worked hard to provide for his wife and three children.
“He went to school while working 80-hour weeks so he could take care of us,” Susan Lechuga said.
Susan and Rogelio were married when they were 19 years old. He said it was his light.
“Rogelio could make you laugh, and he was just my whole world, he made me who I am today,” Susan said.
Susan said the family cared and followed COVID guidelines when Rogelio became ill in late October. Susan believes she obtained COVID from a co-worker. Rogelio, who had pre-existing conditions, died a few days later.
“I would give my house, I would give my car, I would give the money I have in the bank to get my husband back to my side. I want people to understand that COVID is real.”
Arizona on Thursday reported a record number of hospitalizations and averages of cases and deaths over 7 days.
“We need to be loving each other as a country, as a state. Instead of being so selfish, we just need to do what we need to do to reduce those numbers,” Susan said.
Susan hopes other families don’t have to suffer like they did, and is determined to continue to do her part to help stop the spread.
“I could say, forget it, I did everything right and look where it got me. But no, I’m still hiding, I’m still disinfecting, I’m still distancing myself.”
Susan and her children recently moved to California to be closer to family.
A GoFundMe page has been created to raise funds for the family.