Sarah Simental’s parents say she had no other health problems, and yet the virus took her life at such a young age.
“She called me up crying to say that, you know,” Mom, I’m going to miss Christmas. “And I had to reassure her that it’s only one day on the calendar and when she gets home we’ll do Christmas with you. And unfortunately she didn’t,” said her mother, Deborah Simental.
COVID-19 killed high school in a matter of days. Her mother said Sarah’s headache turned into a sore throat and body aches on December 23. It was enough to take her daughter to Silver Cross Hospital.
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Her mother said Simental had no health problems and was not taking any medications. But when her symptoms worsened, doctors took the sick teen to University of Chicago Hospital.
Her family said things got worse then quickly.
‘I have no words for it. I just can’t believe how quickly it progressed, ”said her father, Don Simental.
“It literally just kept eating her,” added her mother. “And no parent should ever have to watch their child go through that.”
Their only moment of rest – shrouded in unimaginable pain – was at their daughter’s bedside as she passed.
‘She said,’ It’s going to be fine, Mom. “And that was the last,” said Deborah Simental. So I know she knows it will all work out in the end. We’ll miss her, but we’ll be fine. “
Sarah would have graduated from Lincoln Way East High School in a few months. She dreamed of taking care of animals – a sign of the compassion her relatives say they will miss the most.
“I think I’m going to miss some of the real milestones that every mother wants to have with her daughter,” said Deborah Simental.
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