Young dad dying of Covid-19: "I should have gotten the damn vaccine!"

Las Vegas, Nevada - Jessica DuPreez and her fiancé Michael Freedy had planned to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but wanted to wait to see how it worked for others first. His family says the hesitation cost the father of five his life.

Michael Freedy (†39) died from Covid-19.
Michael Freedy (†39) died from Covid-19.  © Screenshot/GoFundMe/Jessica DuPreez

Immediately before his death on Thursday, Freedy wrote one of his last text message to his fiancé: "I should have gotten the damn vaccine."

DuPreez spoke with FOX5 Las Vegas about her late fiancé and explained that she and Freedy "wanted to wait just one year from the release to see what effects people had, but there was never any intention to not get it."

The couple had previously been on vacation with their children in San Diego, where Freedy contracted the virus, and he died just six days after being admitted to the hospital, according to People.

Initially, Freedy assumed he was suffering from heat stroke, as he had gotten severely sunburned the day before.

But when he was struggling to breathe, he was again rushed to the ER, where he tested positive for Covid-19. Even with additional oxygen and ventilation, he quickly succumbed to the illness.

She said that losing her beloved Michael at such young age from Covid-19 had come as a shock: "He is only 39. Our babies now don't have a dad. You can't say I am young and it won't affect me because it will."

"I expected to be with him for another 30 years," she added.

On her GoFundMe page, the grieving mother gave an update on Thursday, where she wrote, "The love of my life, my rock, my everything. The father to my babies, is no longer with us. I don’t know what to do."

Since then, donors have raised nearly $60,0000 to help offset expenses, though no amount of money will truly make up for the family's loss.

Cover photo: Screenshot/GoFundMe/Jessica DuPreez

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