Husband and wife married for 59 years die from COVID just 10 days apart after the whole family caught the virus following a haircut before Christmas
A Chicago couple married for 59 years passed away just 10 days apart this month after their whole family contracted the virus following a haircut.
Mike Bruno died on Wednesday and his wife Carol, 79, died 10 days prior on December 14.
The whole family contracted the virus after their son Joe received a haircut by his sister Michelle, who brought their mother Carol along with, at his apartment on November 20.
Now they're now speaking out to warn others of the dangers of the contagious virus.
'We never thought this would happen to our family and it did, and this virus is really unforgiving and just attacks in really vicious ways,' the couple's son Joe Bruno said to ABC7.
Chicago couple Mike and Carol Bruno, who were married for 59 years, passed away just 10 days apart this month after their family contracted the virus from a haircut
Mike Bruno died on Wednesday and his wife Carol, 79, died 10 days prior on December 14
Before the haircut Michelle, who works at a salon, tested negative for the virus.
During the haircut the family wore masks and Carol practiced social distancing, yet the three of them caught the virus. It's not clear who had it to start with.
'My sister works in a salon and so just before Thanksgiving my sister got a COVID test and was negative, and she quarantined for three or four days after she got the negative test. I needed a haircut, and she said, "Well, why don't I just come by and cut your hair so you don't have to come into the salon,"' Joe said.
'I did not hug my mom; I did not hug my sister. My sister cut my hair, she was masked and all the windows were open. We were distanced in my apartment and then they left. They were over for maybe 40-45 minutes. Later that evening, my sister started to feel symptoms and about three days later I started to feel symptoms,' Joe explained.
Their son Joe Bruno says he, his sister and her husband, his brother and his parents caught the virus after his sister gave him a haircut at his apartment on November 20. His mother came along for the cut and despite wearing masks and practicing social distancing, the virus spread
Michelle Wilson with her father Mike Bruno pictured together left. Michelle, Joe and mom Carol pictured together right
Joe said he, his brother, his sister and her husband all contracted the virus after he got the haircut.
Though it's not clear who brought the virus into the family, Joe says he wants the tragedy to serve as a cautionary tale to other families.
'Had I made that sacrifice and, you know, didn't spend, you know, 30-40 minutes with my mom - they would still be here,' he said.
The Bruno family is now speaking out to warn of the dangers of the virus. 'To know that they went within less than 10 days of one another is such a beautiful thing. And, you know, I would give anything to bring them back but I'm so happy that they are together again,' Joe said
Joe Bruno shared this photo of his parents on their wedding day to celebrate one of their anniversaries
His one solace is that his parents died within days of each other.
'I think the thing that gives us peace is knowing that my dad didn't know my mom passed away,' Joe said.
'To know that they went within less than 10 days of one another is such a beautiful thing. And, you know, I would give anything to bring them back but I'm so happy that they are together again,' he added.
In Illinois a total of 937,909 COVID-19 cases have been reported since the start of the pandemic as well as more than 15,969 deaths and 1,367 probable deaths.
As of Sunday the seven-day statewide positivity rate from December 19 to December 25 is 8.5 percent.
Nationwide more than 19million virus cases and more than 333,000 deaths have been reported.