Claremore Family Loses Dad To COVID-19 After Losing Mom To Cancer 6 Years Ago

A Claremore teenager is now hoping to care for her younger siblings after losing their father to COVID-19 six years after losing their mom to cancer.

Amanda Carrillo is the oldest sister of her three siblings, Josh, Jackie and Isaac.

"You know, I'm struggling, mentally, emotionally, I'm just trying my best to... I guess, survive," she said.

Six years ago, the family lost their mom to cancer, and now their dad has died after getting sick with COVID.

"People say they understand but they don't because what do you do when you're 18, 15, 14, and 12 and you don't have a mom and a dad," said Ashley Budde.

Ashley Budde is a family friend and says the strength she sees from Amanda is inspiring.

Amanda says her dad tested positive while visiting his mom in New Jersey. She says he wasn't vaccinated and ended up in the ICU.

She says she had to make the heartbreaking decision to take him off the ventilator.

"It wasn't an easy choice to make, but I knew he was in pain, and when I saw him, I just knew," Amanda said.

Now, the family is separated.

Amanda says Jackie is living with family in New Jersey, and Isaac and Josh have been placed with family friends in Claremore.

Both Amanda and Ashley say they are hoping everyone can be under one roof together soon.

"To make sure as a family, they get to be together, and grieve together and heal together, and just be together," Ashley said.

Amanda says right now she's working hard to get a car and her own place to stay so she can get all of her siblings back together.

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