Justin Hunter, a Georgia teenager, lost both of his parents to COVID-19 just days apart and urges people to take the proper precautions.
What We Know:
- Hunter is a senior at Johns Creek High School. He told Atlanta’s WSB that he and his parents tested positive for the virus, but he was asymptomatic. He said his parents started presenting symptoms and “their temperatures skyrocketed, they had headaches, a horrible cough. They just felt very lazy”. His father, Eugene Hunter, 59 was a musician and died July 26 and his mother, Angie Hunter, 57, was a human resources executive and she died on July 30.
- Hunter says the last thing his father told him was that he loved him, and he was going to keep fighting.
- He and his family were careful according to the teen. “We were a regular family, just trying to stay safe during this pandemic. My mom, when she would go to the store, she would be wearing a mask, she would be wearing gloves.”
- Social media has reached out to Hunter who will be staying with relatives and created a GoFundMe which has raised over $250,000. Hunter told WSB that he plans to dedicate his senior season to his parents. He stated, “They never raised me to sit around and feel sorry for myself in any situation”. He added, “I just gotta keep going and pushing.” Hunter plans to play in college and continue into pro football.
- The Hunters were married for 35 years and met in college. Hunter said his church community described his father as being a talented saxophone player.
- Hunter has also thanked those who have reached out to him during this time.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158819960525844&set=a.10150245566180844&type=3
https://twitter.com/JustinHunter47/status/1289237255945457664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1289237255945457664%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsbtv.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fmetro-football-player-loses-both-parents-covid-19-complications-same-week%2FCMS34XZDU5BEHI2TV74QUBJ5T4%2F
Our thoughts and prayers are with Justin and the rest of the Hunter family.
