Update (April 13, 2020): Minnesota Timberwolves player Karl-Anthony Towns' mom has passed away after battling the coronavirus. The Timberwolves announced the passing of Jacqueline Cruz on Monday.
In March, the athlete shared that his mother had contracted the virus in a video posted to Instagram.
Towns took to social media to urge people to take the novel coronavirus seriously after his parents became ill and sought medical attention after being advised by their son.
Timberwolves announce Karl-Anthony Towns’ mom, Jacqueline, has died due to complications from the coronavirus pic.twitter.com/QRSk8M3Hdk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2020
Towns' dad was told to quarantine at home while his mother was hospitalized and later placed in a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator. At one point, Cruz's health appeared to be approving and Towns had become hopeful.
"We talked, and she felt she turned the corner; I felt she was turning the corner," Towns said. "I knew there was more days to come, but I felt that we were heading in the right direction. They said that she went sideways and things had went sideways quick."
Original (March 25, 2020): NBA superstar Karl-Anthony Towns went to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal that his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, is ailing because of the coronavirus. In an emotional video, the All-Star said he's sharing his family's story in hopes of helping other people realize the gravity of the virus.
"It's important that everyone understands the severity of what's happening in the world right now with this coronavirus and I think where my life is right now could help, so I decided to do this video," Towns said.
The 24-year-old found out last week that his parents weren't feeling well and told them to see a doctor immediately. While his father was told to quarantine at home, Towns said his mother had to stay at the hospital and her condition continued to get worse. She's now in a medically induced coma. The Timberwolves confirmed with ESPN that Towns' mother was diagnosed with COVID-19.
“She just wasn't getting better. Her fever was never cutting from 103, maybe go down to 101.9 with the meds, and then immediately spike back up during the night," he said. "She was very uncomfortable. Her lungs were getting worse, her cough was getting worse. She was deteriorating. She was deteriorating — and we always felt that the next medicine would help. This is the one that's going to get it done. This mixture is going to get it done.”
Although Cruz's health appeared to be getting better for a short time, her condition worsened again.
"We talked, and she felt she turned the corner; I felt she was turning the corner," Towns said. "I knew there was more days to come, but I felt that we were heading in the right direction. They said that she went sideways and things had went sideways quick."
As she struggled with her breathing, Cruz had to be put on a ventilator.
"She was confused by everything, and I'm trying to talk to her about everything and encourage and stay positive, just talk through everything with her,” Towns said.
But Towns said he remains hopeful.
“My mother, she’s the strongest woman I know, and I know she’ll beat this,” Towns said. “We’re going to rejoice when she does.”
According to CNN, at least 704 people in the U.S. have died from the coronavirus so far.
"Please protect your families, your loved ones, your friends, yourself," Towns said. "Practice social distancing. Please don't be in places with a lot of people. This disease is deadly. We're going to keep fighting."
Before his mother fell ill, Towns donated $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic to help fund coronavirus testing, CBS reported.
"Please don't be in places with a lot of people," the All-Star said. "It just heightens your chances of getting this disease. It's deadly. And we're going to keep fighting on my side, me and my family, we're going to keep fighting this. We're going to beat it. We're going to win."
