A young woman has taken on the role of caretaker while both her parents battle COVID-19. Both of Aolani Zambrano’s parents are in the hospital fighting for their lives.
“We would have a little more hope if one of our parents were to be home,” said Zambrano.
It started with mild conditions. Milton and Evelyn Zambrano tested positive a day apart.
“A few days later my mom’s oxygen was deteriorating really fast, to the point where I couldn’t really understand when she would call me,” she said.
Her dad’s health deteriorated as well. Soon, both mother and father, both in their 40s, were on life support.
“He went on the ventilator one night and then the next morning they were like ‘this isn’t enough, we have to put him on life support,'" said Zambrano. “My mom went on life support the day before my dad. It was the same exact thing.”
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County health departments have launched waitlists for adults 16 years old and over.
You can register to recieve the vaccination in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. Links are below:
Waitlist Links: Collin - Search Waitlist | Dallas | Denton | Tarrant
You do not need to be a resident of the county to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in that county -- registration is open to anyone in Texas. For those without internet access, Tarrant County is also taking registrations by phone at 817-248-6299. In Dallas County, call the DCHHS vaccine hotline at 1-855-IMMUNE9 (1-855-466-8639). In Denton County, call 940-349-2585.
For a more detailed breakdown of who is included in each priority group in Texas, see this page from the Texas DSHS.
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At 23-years-old, Zambrano is now caretaker for both her grandmother and 14-year-old brother, Keoni.
“In moments where I feel like I’m doubting how I’m doing with helping my brother and helping my grandmother and paying bills and stuff, my brother almost takes the role of being the adult sometimes.
She hangs on to the last words she heard her mother speak over the phone.
“She was just telling me that she’s proud of me. Just that she knows I’m so strong.”
She too believes in the strength of both her mother and father and their will to fight and make it back home.
*Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live.
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