A New Jersey mother and son died of the novel coronavirus within nine days of each other. Thomas Martins, who had Down syndrome, was meant to be blowing out the candles on April 6, his 30th birthday.
He succumbed to COVID-19 that day. Nine days before, his mom died of the same illness. “They were each other’s whole world,” Martins’ stepdad, Rudy Reitz, told BuzzFeed News. “Her entire life revolved around making sure that Thomas was healthy, loved and stayed active.” Martins’ godmother, Joni Forte-Lewin, described his mom Carolyn Martins-Reitz, 55, as the “kindest and strongest wife, mother and friend imaginable,” in a GoFundMe.