Fully Vaccinated, Boosted Man With Down Syndrome Dies Of COVID-19

KEY POINTS

Ramon Torres, 67, died Wednesday after contracting COVID-19
He was hospitalized despite being fully vaccinated and boosted
Torres had Down syndrome and was featured in a local charity initiative

A 67-year-old man in Texas who was fully vaccinated and received his booster shot died this week after he contracted COVID-19.

Ramon Torres, of Austin, died Wednesday after he got sick with the coronavirus, local newspaper the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Torres, who was fully vaccinated and boosted, spent 12 days in the hospital and an intensive care unit due to his underlying health conditions, but his sister, Judy Silva, decided to bring him home on Jan. 28 to take care of him.

"I wish I could have kept him longer, but he was in so much pain. I got to say my goodbyes to him," Silva was quoted as saying.

The two siblings and Silva's husband, Juan Silva, were featured in the 2021 Statesman Season for Caring program.

The campaign is run by the Austin American-Statesman and it highlights the needs of local families and helps others through nonprofit organizations in the Central Texas region.

Torres, who had Down syndrome, was featured in the initiative after he was nominated by Austin Palliative Care, a resource provider for people with long-term illnesses.

Through the Season for Caring program, Torres and his family received donations, including a bed, bedside table, blankets, books, clothing, dental care, eye exams, toys and even a wheelchair.

Additionally, an anonymous donor paid off a $2,5000 loan that the family took to make ends meet. Austin Palliative Care, for its part, has been able to pay off the family's rent using Season for Caring money.

"We have never been helped before... Words cannot express the love and support we have been given from them. I wish I could meet all these people. They have a heart of gold," Judy said.

Torres started staying with his sister and brother-in-law after he suffered a stroke 17 years ago.

Judy received money from the state for taking care of her brother, but now the family will have to rely on Juan's monthly $700 Social Security check. Funds from Season for Caring will also help them get through the year.

The couple is now preparing for Torres' funeral.

"I will miss everything... He was a good brother to me. He loved me unconditionally. I'm going to miss him dearly," Judy said.

The United States has reported a total of 75,605,991 COVID-19 cases and 892,442 virus-related deaths, data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.