TUESDAY September 15, 2020: To LIVE and let DIE in COVID-19. ZUMA Press Newspaper San Antonio Express-News reportage on: COVID-19, family decisions at the death bed. The papers stellar award winning, 2018 Pulitzer finalist, photojournalist LISA KRANTZ, together with Health and Medicine Reporter LAUREN CARUBA, chronicle the agonizing choices of a family during the coronavirus pandemic at Southwest General Hospital. A 63-year-old losing her battle with COVID-19. Case worker: 'Had the family made a decision?' Families making complex decisions about the medical care of loved ones and is it time to give up? Welcome to: 'WHAT IF WE PULL THE PLUG TOO EARLY?'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #753: TUESDAY September 15, 2020: To LIVE and let DIE in COVID-19. ZUMA Press Newspaper San Antonio Express-News reportage on: COVID-19, family decisions at the death bed. The papers stellar award winning, 2018 Pulitzer finalist, photojournalist LISA KRANTZ, together with Health and Medicine Reporter LAUREN CARUBA, chronicle the agonizing choices of a family during the coronavirus pandemic at Southwest General Hospital. A 63-year-old losing her battle with COVID-19. Case worker: 'Had the family made a decision?' Families making complex decisions about the medical care of loved ones and is it time to give up? Welcome to: 'WHAT IF WE PULL THE PLUG TOO EARLY?'
SUSIE MEDRANO, with her daughter, ALEXIS, sings at the conclusion of a prayer for her aunt, Leonor 'Nora' Rangel, 63, of Del Rio, outside Southwest General Hospital where Rangel has been for over a month fighting COVID-19. Rangel has been on a ventilator since July 10. 'We're not done fighting for our mom,' Nora's son, Henry Rangel, who recovered from COVID-19, said after the group including Nora's four children and husband, prayed together. 'My mom is a very, very strong woman. That's why I believe she's doing to get out of here,' her daughter, Vanessa Dyer, said of Leonor, who is also a grandmother to eight children. 'My mom can do anything. We always tell her, Mom, you're Superwoman,' said ALEX VASQUEZ, Leonor's other daughter.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
VANESSA DYER, center, wipes tears while her sister, ALEX VASQUEZ, holds the tablet FaceTiming with their mother, Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, who was on a ventilator at Southwest General Hospital, at Dyer's home in San Antonio. At left, is Rangel's husband of 44 years, ENRIQUE RANGEL and also watching are Dyer's children, AIDEN, 5, and SOPHIA, 2. The siblings, Rangel's grandchildren and other family members FaceTimed with their mother every night as she fought COVID-19, with the help of nurses setting up a tablet next to her bed. After 40 days with symptoms, 37 days in the hospital and 17 on a ventilator, 63-year-old Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, of Del Rio, passed peacefully at Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio on July 26, 2020.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
I LOVE YOU MAMA MISS U MAMA, a note by AIDEN DYER, 5, to his ''Mama,'' Leonor ''Nora Rangel, while his mother and other family members talked to her over FaceTime.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
ENRIQUE RANGEL, from left, with his children, VANESSA DYER, and ALEX VASQUEZ, talk on FaceTime to his wife and their mother, Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, who was on a ventilator at Southwest General Hospital, at Dyer's home in San Antonio. Their siblings, Andy and Henry Rangel, were also on the call from their respective homes.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
ALEX VASQUEZ and her husband, ROBERTO VASQUEZ, comfort their son, FABIAN VASQUEZ, 8, as he kneels in front of his grandmother's casket during the visitation for Leonor 'Nora' Rangel at Trinity Mortuary in Del Rio.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
SOPHIA DYER, 2, sits in front of the casket holding her grandmother, Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, during the visitation and rosary for her at Trinity Mortuary in Del Rio.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
FELICITAS RANGEL, the mother-in-law of Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, shares a moment with MIGUEL HERNANDEZ during lunch at the home of her granddaughter, Alex Vasquez, after Rangel's funeral in Del Rio.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
ANDY RANGEL pins a flower for his father, ENRIQUE RANGEL, before the funeral mass and burial of Andy's mother and Enrique's wife, Leonor 'Nora' Rangel, in photo at right.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
AIDEN DYER, 5, crosses his hands on his chest as he slowly walks to his seat as family and friends take communion during the funeral mass for his grandmother, Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Del Rio.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
Nora Rangel's children, from left, ANDY RANGEL, VANESSA DYER, ALEX VASQUEZ and HENRY RANGEL, stand with their father and Nora's husband, ENRIQUE RANGEL, center, before her casket is carried to the hearse at Trinity Mortuary for the funeral mass and burial on August 1.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
VANESSA DYER, next to her father, ENRIQUE RANGEL, left, grieves during the burial of her mother and Enrique's wife, Leonor 'Nora' Rangel, at Sunset Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Del Rio.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
FABIAN VASQUEZ, 8, embraces his grandfather, ENRIQUE RANGEL, after the burial of Fabian's grandmother and Enrique's wife, Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, at Sunset Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Del Rio. Family friend CLAUDIA MARTIN, left, grieves as well.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
ROBERTO VASQUEZ Jr. the son-in-law of Leonor 'Nora' Rangel, entertains his twin niece, SOPHIA DYER, 2, holding her up in the air, as the family spends the afternoon together at his home after Rangel's funeral mass and burial in Del Rio. Rangel's husband, ENRIQUE RANGEL, sitting behind him on the right.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
ALEX VASQUEZ holds her twin niece, OLIVIA DYER, 2, after the funeral for Alex's mother and Olivia's grandmother, Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, during the family gathering afterwards at Vasquez's home in Del Rio.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
Siblings VANESSA DYER, from left, ALEX VASQUEZ and HENRY RANGEL, mourn the loss of their mother, Leonor ''Nora'' Rangel, at Vanessa's home in San Antonio. With Vanessa are her twin daughters, SOPHIA, left, and OLIVIA, 2.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
VANESSA DYER grieves the loss of her mother Nora at her home in San Antonio. After 40 days with symptoms, 37 days in the hospital and 17 on a ventilator, 63-year-old Leonor 'Nora' Rangel, of Del Rio, passed peacefully at Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio.
© Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News via ZUMA Wire
