An Arizona newlywed lost her husband to a fatal epileptic seizure just 18 days after their mid-October wedding.
Sadie Ferreri is mourning the death of her 25-year-old husband, Joe Hernandez, who died on November 4 after suffering an epileptic seizure.
“My biggest fear came true: losing the love of my life. He had battled epilepsy for eight years, the entire time I had known him. I did everything I could for him, but I still feel as though I failed,” Ferreri wrote in a statement shared on Facebook.
Hernandez suffered a seizure on the morning of November 4 but continued with his normal routine and went to work, according to a GoFundMe campaign. Ferreri collected him after his shift, and he later went to sleep at home.
Several hours later, Ferreri checked on her husband and found him unresponsive, according to the fundraising page.
“There was nothing the paramedics could do when they arrived. We believe he suffered another seizure, but this one was fatal,” Ferreri’s mother, Mandy Ferreri, wrote on the page.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that “the risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major concern.”
Sadie Ferreri, right, an Arizona resident, is grieving the loss of her 25-year-old husband, Joe Hernandez, left, who died from an epileptic seizure on November 4, just 18 days after their wedding.
Steve Wood, Hernandez’s father-in-law, said on social media that Hernandez had lived with epilepsy since he was 16. Source: Facebook/Sadie Ferreri
Hernandez suffered a seizure on the morning of November 4, went to work and later took a nap at home. His wife, Ferreri, subsequently found him unresponsive. Source: Facebook/Renee Hernandez
CDC estimates indicate that “for every 1,000 U.S. adults with epilepsy, one may die from SUDEP each year.”
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There are currently no medical records available to confirm whether Hernandez’s death was officially classified as SUDEP.
Family members, friends and supporters have expressed their grief on social media, describing themselves as “devastated and in utter shock” after learning of his death.
“Sadie… my heart breaks for you today. This is not how I imagined your next chapter. I will always cherish the time we spent together—the games with your friends, the karaoke, your vows and your special dance with Joe as husband and wife. It was clear just by looking at you both how deeply you loved each other,” one of Hernandez’s relatives wrote in a comment.
Others called Hernandez’s death “tragic and heartbreaking.”
“My life will never be the same… my heart broke when I lost you,” Renee Hernandez, Joe’s mother, wrote in several social media posts.
Family members, friends and supporters expressed their grief on social media, saying they were “devastated and in utter shock” following Hernandez’s death.
“She was a newlywed with her new life ahead of her, and now she’s a widow planning a funeral all in a matter of 18 days,” Mandy Ferreri wrote in a fundraising statement. Source: Facebook/Sadie Ferreri
By Friday evening, the GoFundMe campaign had collected nearly $9,000 toward its $15,000 target.
“She was a newlywed with her new life ahead of her, and now she’s a widow planning a funeral all in a matter of 18 days,” Mandy Ferreri wrote. “May our son-in-law, Joe, rest in peace.”
Our News Outlet has contacted Sadie Ferreri, Renee Hernandez and Mandy Ferreri for comment.
