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On Saturday, March 28, Angel Calloway went to her family doctor with symptoms of a mild cold. She was congested, had a dry cough, and a low grade fever. Since she was not considered high risk, as a young healthy adult, she was not offered a COVID-19 test. She and her doctor believed she was just not that sick.
By Monday morning, Angel died. She woke up unable to breathe so she fell asleep sitting up and tried to rest as much as she could. She later got up only to collapse on the floor. An ambulance was called, her temperature was 101ºF but she was alert and talking. By the time the ambulance arrived, Angel already needed CPR. The heroic responders rotated compressions the entire ride to the hospital and despite the doctor’s best efforts to revive her, nothing could be done.
Angel was a bright, vibrant woman. At only 46-years-old, she loved kayaking on the lake with her siblings and dad. She loved hiking to see waterfalls, and every Christmas, you would find her snuggled up next to her beloved Yorkie, Oliver, watching Hallmark Holiday specials.
She was taken from this world too soon, and without any answers. A rapid COVID-19 test was performed post-mortem and yielded a negative result. Despite Angel’s sudden death with absolutely no pre-existing medical conditions and exhibiting all the major signs of the virus, the medical examiners refused an autopsy, claiming her death was not suspicious and therefore they did not want to waste their resources.
Angel’s doctor recommended an autopsy and despite his best efforts to reach out to the board of medical examiners in Raleigh, NC, they still denied our family any further investigation.
Our family is now left with one final option to try and find closure in an event that has left us, confused, rattled, and heartbroken. The funeral home agreed to hold our beloved Angel’s body until we can raise the funds for a private autopsy. Given the sudden circumstances, my grandparents, whom Angel lived with, did not have the thousands needed to fund an autopsy and funeral saved as both are unemployed and Angel was their primary source of income.
As a tight-knit and loving family who never missed a birthday, Christmas, or graduation, isolation and quarantine has taken its toll on our hearts as we are unable to surround each other with the love and hugs my grandparents need right now. We are forced to grieve and support one another through FaceTime or a car window.
Please consider donating to my elderly grandparents, Shirley and Claill Calloway to help them properly lay their daughter to rest with the closure they deserve.
All donations will go directly toward Angel’s autopsy, funeral, and the expenses my grandparents will surely have to shoulder in the coming weeks.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, share, and spread awareness of this very real disease in a time of such uncertainty.
Sincerely,
Katie Calloway Galarza
By Monday morning, Angel died. She woke up unable to breathe so she fell asleep sitting up and tried to rest as much as she could. She later got up only to collapse on the floor. An ambulance was called, her temperature was 101ºF but she was alert and talking. By the time the ambulance arrived, Angel already needed CPR. The heroic responders rotated compressions the entire ride to the hospital and despite the doctor’s best efforts to revive her, nothing could be done.
Angel was a bright, vibrant woman. At only 46-years-old, she loved kayaking on the lake with her siblings and dad. She loved hiking to see waterfalls, and every Christmas, you would find her snuggled up next to her beloved Yorkie, Oliver, watching Hallmark Holiday specials.
She was taken from this world too soon, and without any answers. A rapid COVID-19 test was performed post-mortem and yielded a negative result. Despite Angel’s sudden death with absolutely no pre-existing medical conditions and exhibiting all the major signs of the virus, the medical examiners refused an autopsy, claiming her death was not suspicious and therefore they did not want to waste their resources.
Angel’s doctor recommended an autopsy and despite his best efforts to reach out to the board of medical examiners in Raleigh, NC, they still denied our family any further investigation.
Our family is now left with one final option to try and find closure in an event that has left us, confused, rattled, and heartbroken. The funeral home agreed to hold our beloved Angel’s body until we can raise the funds for a private autopsy. Given the sudden circumstances, my grandparents, whom Angel lived with, did not have the thousands needed to fund an autopsy and funeral saved as both are unemployed and Angel was their primary source of income.
As a tight-knit and loving family who never missed a birthday, Christmas, or graduation, isolation and quarantine has taken its toll on our hearts as we are unable to surround each other with the love and hugs my grandparents need right now. We are forced to grieve and support one another through FaceTime or a car window.
Please consider donating to my elderly grandparents, Shirley and Claill Calloway to help them properly lay their daughter to rest with the closure they deserve.
All donations will go directly toward Angel’s autopsy, funeral, and the expenses my grandparents will surely have to shoulder in the coming weeks.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, share, and spread awareness of this very real disease in a time of such uncertainty.
Sincerely,
Katie Calloway Galarza
Organizer and beneficiary
Damion Galarza
Beneficiary