Man writes crushing note to family before COVID-19 death

A Connecticut man left a beautiful, heart-wrenching note for his wife and kids the day before he was intubated for coronavirus treatment.

Jonathan Coelho, 32, who worked at a Danbury, Conn., courthouse, died Wednesday from COVID-19 complications. That morning, Katie Coelho, his wife, reacquired his phone and saw a note that he had left for her and their two children, 2-year-old Braedyn and 10-month-old Penelope.

“I love you guys with all my heart and you’ve given me the best life I could have ever asked for. I am so lucky it makes me so proud to be your husband and the father to Braedyn and Penny,” the note read, according to a GoFundMe for the Coelho family.

It then continued, with Jonathan Coelho writing directly to his wife.

“Katie you are the most beautiful caring nurturing person I’ve ever met…..you are truly one of a kind…..make sure you live life with happiness and that same passion that made me fall in love with you. Seeing you be the best mom to the kids is the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced,” he wrote.

Coelho concluded the note with messages for Katie to give to each of the kids.

“Let Braedy know he’s my best bud and I’m proud to be his father and for all the amazing things he’s done and continues to do,” he wrote. “Let Penelope know she’s a princess and can have whatever she wants in life. I’m so lucky….”

Jonathan Coelho first tested positive for coronavirus back on March 26, according to the GoFundMe page. He had taken extreme precautions because his son Braedyn has dealt with numerous medical issues.

But Coelho contracted COVID-19 all the same, as he was considered an essential worker at the courthouse, Buzzfeed News reported. Coelho was hospitalized March 26 and placed on a ventilator April 2 due to breathing issues.

Three weeks later, doctors believed Coelho had recovered and took him off the ventilator, only for the worst to happen shortly after.

“[Wednesday] morning unexpectedly Jonathan went into cardiac arrest and passed away,” a GoFundMe update from Katie Coelho reads. “He had been doing significantly better the last few days and we were given a very optimistic prognosis. The nurse told me she has no idea what happened and why.”

Alongside Katie, Braedyn and Penelope, Jonathan Coelho is survived by his parents, Al and Donna, his sisters Diana and Christina and his grandparents Alberto and Assuncao.