Andrea Araujo still can't believe it.
Nine days after losing his father, he remembers the last conversation he had with him, before the complications related to COVID-19 ended his life.
"He told me that despite everything, he was happy with what he had achieved. It was a good talk, I wish I could have hugged him for the last time," the 22-year-old told Noticias Telemundo.
The death of Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza has shaken the Latino community
in the United States.
The pulmonologist spent the last nine months of his life treating hundreds of serious cases of COVID-19 in Houston, Texas, until he became infected in October and had to be treated by his colleagues in the same intensive care unit he ran.
On November 30, he died as a result of the virus he fought so hard against.
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“My dad was very brave.
From March-April, when little was known about this disease, he woke up every day motivated to go to see patients ”, said Araujo about his father, who was the
director of intensive care
at
HCA Houston Healthcare in Tomball
, in Texas.
In addition, last May he had led a national study to treat patients infected with this virus with convalescent plasma.
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"Carlos sacrificed himself to save others,"
wrote the doctor's wife, Page King, on her Facebook account.
“He was my life partner, my love, my support, my everything.
When all this started and I was afraid for both of them, because of the great exposure he had regarding the virus, I asked him if he was afraid ... and he replied that he was not afraid, because he was born for this type of situation ”.
Araujo-Preza was born in El Salvador, but has lived in the United States for 26 years, when he decided to emigrate to continue his education at Staten Island University Hospital in New York and at Tulane University in New Orleans.
He has resided in Houston since 2001, where he worked as a pulmonologist for nearly two decades.
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“I want people to know that my dad was an amazing person. An incomparable doctor ”
, said his daughter Andrea.
“The number of patients and colleagues who have given me messages of support and described the experiences they had with him makes me very proud.
I will always carry it in my heart ”.
Family of Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza, Salvadoran doctor who died of COVID-19 Courtesy Andrea Araujo, daughter of the deceased doctor
His relatives were able to spend little time with him during the latter part of this year, as he accumulated many guards and slept many times in the hospital, to attend to emergencies.
At the time of being infected, he tried to minimize the seriousness of his situation to avoid panic among his loved ones.
"My father now will not be able to see my graduation, my wedding
. He will never meet his grandchildren. It is a very difficult situation," added Araujo.
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"We are saddened by the death of Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza," lamented HCA Houston Healthcare through a statement.
“We will miss his excellent medical care, his compassion and his kindness.
Dr. Carlos Araujo-Preza touched many of our lives and will always be remembered for his deep commitment to his patients.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.
With information from CNN and khou
