Two well-known doctors from Florida, a father and a son, have died, according to a family member, of complications from Covid-19.
Dr Carlos Vallejo, 57, and his father, Dr Jorge Vallejo, 89, were admitted to Father’s Hospital early in the morning. They died five weeks apart, said Carlos’ son, Charlie Vallejo.
Dr. Jorge Vallejo was a retired obstetrician and gynecologist who practiced and treated celebrities in the Miami area for more than 45 years, including salsa singer Celia Cruz. He was known for delivering one of the smallest dolls in the world, a 22 week old who was waiting 15 ounces.
He moved his family, including a 2-year-old Carlos, to Miami from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 1965. All three of his sons also studied medicine.
Dr Carlos Vallejo stood at the forefront of the pandemic, packing in full personal protective equipment and treating dozens of Covid-19 patients at any given time.
Charlie Vallejo told CNN that his father treated his patients like family.
“He cared too much,” Charlie Vallejo said. “He died a hero.”
They died weeks apart
Jorge died on June 27 while Carlos was fighting Covid-19 from a hospital room. His family delivered the devastating news of his father’s death via FaceTime.
“(He was) surrounded by machines and no human contact, so I think that kind of broke him,” Charlie Vallejo said.
After three weeks in the ICU, including two weeks on a ventilator, Carlos Vallejo died on August 1st. Charlie said his father did not have any prior circumstances.
“He felt like a champion, you know. He was a fighter to the end,” said Charlie Vallejo.
Five members of the Vallejo family have contracted coronavirus, including Carlos’ wife. The family is of the opinion that Carlos Vallejo was very cautious but became infected by treating patients.
Carlos is one of more than 900 American health care workers who have died from the very disease they are trying to save others.
To commemorate them, Kaiser Health News and the Guardian US joined in publishing a database of all US health care workers who have died from coronavirus since the pandemic began.
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