As the delta variant raises concerns across the country, a woman in Wichita is now without a husband after saying he died of COVID-19.

Martina Francis says what started as an apparent asthma attack for her 32-year-old husband Darren then got worse.

“It was when I got a call on Wednesday (July 21) that I knew and my heart broke,” Francis said.

The two have been married since 2015.

“It’s a story in itself of how we met… he was my best friend my everything, he was my rock.”

Everything seemed to be going well for the young couple until Darren’s 32nd birthday.

“We walked around one hospital and finally took him to another and within seconds they hooked him up to oxygen,” Francis said.

After a few days, the diagnosis fell.

“He didn’t look good. That’s when I knew,” Francis said.

Francis says her husband, like thousands of other Kansans, was not vaccinated, but she believes if they had known earlier in the diagnostic process that he would still be there.

“People were telling me what I should have done. How we should have been vaccinated and how we were selfish and didn’t think about others, the list goes on and on,” Francis said.

The University of Kansas Health System says things are unclear and they are seeing a slight increase in cases across the board.

Dr Steven Stites said: “When problems arise, the shields rise. When problems arise, hide them and the problems are there. That’s why everyone is a little nervous. to be.”

A new Associated Press poll suggests that many, if not most, unvaccinated Americans do not plan to be vaccinated.

“Would this situation make me run and go get the shot? No,” Francis said.

For Martina and her 11-year-old son Matthew, they hope to adjust to this new life without a daddy.

“It will be difficult for me to go from a two-earner family to on my own,” Francis said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family, you can click here if you want to donate to Francis’.