Mother of 4 Who Refused Vaccine Dies of COVID Days After Husband Killed by Virus

A Texas mother of four who refused to be vaccinated has died from COVID-19, just days after her husband was also killed by the virus.

Lydia Rodriguez was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch, in League City, in mid-July with her husband Lawrence after both fell victim to the virus.

According to a GoFundMe organized by Dottie Jones, who said she was Lydia Rodriguez's cousin, Lawrence Rodriguez was first placed on oxygen, but "took a turn for the worse" and was transferred to the same ICU where his wife was being cared for.

On August 2, Lawrence Rodriguez died following his battle with COVID-19. His wife of 21 years also lost her fight against the virus on August 17.

Speaking to ABC13, Jones said the couple, from La Marque, did not believe in vaccines and that when Lydia Rodriguez had changed her mind about them she was in the ICU.

She added: "You try to talk to them, and she didn't like that. Didn't trust it, I guess."

Jones continued to tell the network: "Before she got intubated, one of the last things she told her sister was 'please make sure my children are vaccinated.' She would be there for her kids right now if she had been vaccinated.

"It breaks my heart that people are believing the misinformation that's out there. The misinformation that's out there. The misinformation is killing people, and we need to get the truth out there."

As of early Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe fundraiser to cover medical costs has raised $49,195 on its $50,000 target.

Lydia and Lawrence Rodriguez are survived by their four children and their family is hoping to care for them "at home but the financial burden of household bills and mounting medical bills has become overwhelming," according to Jones's post on the GoFundMe page.

Newsweek has contacted Jones for comment.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been highly critical of mask mandates in the state and remains firm in his decision to ban local governments from imposing them, despite a rising number of cases.

On Tuesday, Gov. Abbott, who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, tested positive for the virus.

The Republican governor said in a statement he was not experiencing symptoms and has been given Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment.

"I test myself every day, and today is the first day that I've tested positive," Abbott said. "The good news is that my wife continues to test negative."