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FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida. (WSVN) – A South Florida teenager described by relatives as full of life is in hospital fighting COVID-19 days before she is scheduled to receive the vaccine, her family said.
Relatives of 15-year-old Paulina Velasquez said she was excited to start her sophomore year at JP Taravella High School in Coral Springs.
Monday night, she remains on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at Broward Health Medical Center.
“She is intubated. She is in an induced coma, ”said her mother, Agnes Velasquez, who also tested positive for COVID.
Paulina’s family said she was a healthy teenager who was aware of the virus and still wore her mask.
“Today is our 9th day in the hospital. Every day, it’s more and more difficult to be sitting at my daughter’s bedside, next to her, holding her hand, ”said Agnès.
“My sister always took precautions, and she made sure to always wear her mask everywhere. To be honest, she was a little scared of the virus, ”said her brother, Tomas Velasquez. “It’s actually really shocking to us.”
Tomas said he and his sister are best friends. During their last phone conversation before being transported to hospital, she asked him to get the COVID vaccine.
“She started with – she was having trouble breathing and she started to get tired. She used to tell my mom that she was tired, that she couldn’t walk, ”he said,“ so my mom took precautions and took her to the emergency room. It happened in the blink of an eye. “
The family learned that she was suffering from COVID and pneumonia. A few days later, she was intubated and put on a ventilator. Hospital staff change their body position every 12 hours.
Agnes said she was showing symptoms, but had not left her daughter.
“I sit next to her bed and pray, hold her hand and just pray, asking God to heal her and bring her back to me as soon as possible,” Agnes said.
“We put our daughter in the hands of God, and He is there, He is always there, and we pray, pray,” said Orlando Velasquez, Paulina’s father.
Parishioners at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, where the Velazquez family attend services, raised Paulina in prayer.
Orlando and Thomas can’t be by Paulina’s side, but 7News cameras showed them hugging near the hospital entrance on Monday afternoon. They said they had come to pray and be near her.
Father and son also took the opportunity to warn others to be careful.
“I am here to just encourage people and let everyone know that this virus is serious,” Tomas said. “A lot of people don’t think it’s serious, but my sister was a perfectly healthy 15-year-old girl.”
“My daughter is only 15 years old. She’s a good girl. She’s in great shape, great, and for my kids, for everyone it’s really hard to see her in that bed, ”said Orlando.
On Monday evening, Paulina’s family said it seemed her lungs were clearing a bit, but it’s far too early to know what her prognosis is at this point.
Paulina’s family is asking for prayers from the public. They have created a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses. If you would like to donate, click here.
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