Paul Blackwell, 62, and Rose Mary Blackwell, 65, died Sunday after two weeks of intensive care and several days on a ventilator at Harris Methodist Hospital, their son Shawn Blackwell told CNN.
They were both teachers of the Grand Prairie Independent School District in Grand Prairie, Texas. Rose Mary was a second-grade teacher and had just reached her 20th year at the Travis World Language Academy. Paul Fannie was a PE teacher and football coach at Middle School.
Blackwell said his parents worked until he fell ill in December. According to Blackwell, as a result of the doctors not being able to confirm, it became difficult for him to be stripped of life support after several days.
“The doctors said they have not seen any progress yet, and they are slowly reducing their overall vital functions,” Blackwell said. “He got to the point where he went too far and there’s nothing else they can do.”
“My brother and I came to the conclusion that let them go together peacefully. They were together and held hands. My brother and I both held my parents’ hands too, so the four of us held each other’s hands. Both were removed from the ventilator. ”
The Grand Prairie Independent School District expressed condolences to the family and the school community in a post on social media on Monday.
“I just let people know I’m proud of my mom and dad and I’m proud of what they do,” Blackwell said. “That was the definition of great parents and grandparents to this day.”
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