Husband writes emotional letter to wife and children before dying of coronavirus aged 32

'I love you guys with all my heart and you’ve given me the best life I could have ever asked for'

Man writes letter to wife and children on phone before dying of coronavirus (GoFundMe) (eyJpdiI6IjNKaUZnXC9XaXc5emVwSjYxOFJ0bHJBPT0iLCJ2YWx1ZSI6ImhObGs1VURLdnk2TlVqaWJnU2dBaWJXcWdOYXpFRFhpWGRWaktXUERqQjZhNkdCYVwvZlNoSVlJTHNGRVwvYjU5UCIsIm1hYyI6IjI5N2VmZWFhZTU4ZWQxMzRjZTMxNmJiYTVjYjk3NGZmNDE4YjM3MzE1ZTY5Y2JjZjQ4ZGVjMGEyNzQwMjdjM2EifQ==)

A woman has shared the heartbreaking letter her husband of seven years wrote to her and their children before he died of coronavirus at the age of 32.

Jonathan Coelho, from Danbury, Connecticut, went into cardiac arrest and died Wednesday after being admitted to the hospital 28 days earlier for coronavirus.

Days before the 32-year-old succumbed to the virus, he took out his phone and wrote a note to his wife Katie Coelho and their two children, Braedyn and Penny.

“I was able to sit with Jonathan in the ICU after it happened and just sat, cried and told him how much the kids and I loved him,” Katie wrote in an update to a GoFundMe page set up for the family. “When Jonathan’s phone was returned to me, I turned it on and there was a note up written by Jonathan the day before he was intubated.”

Katie then shared her husband’s loving note, in which he expressed the love he felt for his family and his hopes for their futures.

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

“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.”

Jonathan then asked his wife to let their two-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, 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.”

“Let Penelope know she’s a princess and can have whatever she wants in life,” the father-of-two continued, referring to the couple’s 10-month-old daughter. “I’m so lucky.”

Jonathan concluded the note reminding his family to “always be happy no matter what”.

According to the GoFundMe, where Katie also shared her own tribute to her husband following his death, Jonathan, a dedicated employee of the state of Connecticut, was a “hard worker with a kind soul” and “had a smile that made anyone feel loved, and a hug that made you feel secure”.

"My kids and I will live the rest of our lives without Jonathan," she said. "And I don’t know how we’re going to do it."

Jonathan first tested positive for Covid-19 on 26 March and was admitted to the hospital for “severe breathing issues,” according to a previous update to the fundraising page. He was later sedated and placed on a ventilator.

On 22 April, 20 days after Jonathan was placed on the ventilator, he “unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest and passed away.”

“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,” Katie said.

As of Friday, the GoFundMe page set up for the family has raised $216,637 of its $250,000 goal. You can donate here.