Some love stories can be truly heartwarming. One such story is that of Betty and Curtis Tarpley who first met in high school and went on to spend their entire life together. Giving a toss to 'till death do us part' the couple scummed to COVID-19 holding hands.
Bought up in Illinois, the couple studied in the same high school. Going forward, the two met in California where they fell in love with each other. Soon they got married and had two beautiful children.
According to a report by CNN, Tim Tarpley, the son, said that after 53 years of togetherness, the couple died on June 18 in a hospital at Texas due to the COVID-19 infection. The couple passed away within an hour of each other while spending their last moments together holding hands.
Giving insight into the whole incident, Tarpley said that his mother, Betty Tarpley (80) was not well for several days following which she was taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth where she was diagnosed COVID-19.
Betty was admitted on June 9 while his father Custis Tarpley (79) was admitted on June 11 with the same infection.
Soon after, Betty's health started deteriorated before her husband's but they were fortunate enough to share their last moments of death together.
CNN quoted Tim saying, "I really feel like he (Curtis) was fighting because he was supposed to and once he knew she (Betty) wasn't gonna make it, then he was okay with, you know, taking it to the house. I think he fought because he thought the team needed him, but was also tired and he was in pain."
When the couple's condition worsened, a nurse made arrangements for the patients to be together. ICU nurse Blake Throne said, "It felt like the right thing to do was to get them together."
Throne stated that the wife passed 20 minutes after reuniting with her husband, while Curtis died 45 minutes later.
Globally, senior citizens come under the high-risk group for COVID-19 considering the high rate of comorbidity.
