SoCal family ravaged by COVID-19 loses 3 loved ones in 3 weeks time

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – A close-knit Southern California family is in mourning after COVID-19 hit them with the unimaginable. They lost three family members in three weeks.

“It’s very shocking and still trying to process it, and still trying to understand why,” said Valerie Levario.

Valerie’s 53-year-old father, Fabian “Chino” Levario, worked as a freelance handyman and played in a Long Beach band for 20 years.

“That was his passion – making music and being with his family,” said Valerie.

Fabian, who underwent a kidney transplant 16 years ago, never revealed how sick he was until he entered the hospital on Nov. 23.

He was having trouble breathing. It was hard for him to talk, ”Valerie said.

He would test positive for COVID-19.

A little over two weeks later, he died.

Valerie says that while planning his funeral, Fabian’s sister Deborah fell ill with pneumonia.

“I had my grandmother call the emergency center to take her to the hospital just in case,” Valerie said.

Valerie says a blood test found COVID antibodies, suggesting Deborah was also infected. She later died.

Six days later, Armando Padilla, Deborah’s husband, who Valerie says had no underlying health problems, would die of the virus.

Family members had to take 8-year-old Armando Jr. tell that he lost both his father and mother.

“He set there and looked at her and said,” My mother is in my heart. I know she’s not coming home. She is in my heart now and I will always have her in my heart. “

Valerie says they were careful. They did not gather and always wore masks, but it is not clear how they contracted the virus.

Valerie’s message: wear a mask and take the virus seriously.

Don’t be selfish. People are dying from this and it’s not fair, ”she said.

GoFundMe pages were set up to help pay for three cremations and set up a trust fund for Armando Jr., which is now being looked after by his grandmother.