A heart 'made of gold:' Grieving husband talks about wife's COVID-19 pregnancy, death

It's hard for Chad Augustus to think about the many things his wife, Joanna, will miss: birthdays, holidays, their sons' first days of school. Perhaps the most difficult for him to accept, however, is that she never got the chance to hold her newborn son in her arms. 

"She was beautiful inside and out," Augustus said. "I was blessed to have her by my side."

It's been two weeks since Joanna Jimenez died, a few days after having an emergency C-section while experiencing complications from COVID-19. Her baby, Ashton, was born healthy, a month early. 

Jimenez, of Woodland Park, was outgoing, with a straightforward personality. She was interested in beauty, skincare and designing and loved to pitch in when friends were having an event that needed decorating.

Jimenez was also a dedicated mother who made sure that Augustus and her sons, Jordan, 15, and 18-month-old Christian, ate well and spent evenings together, sharing meals and watching movies as a family.

"She had a good heart," said Augustus. "Her heart was made out of gold. People say that about friends and family and it might just be for a conversational purpose, but she literally was that person."

Now Augustus is left to raise their children and navigate through the grief. 

A shopping trip, a COVID test

In the last week of January, the family went together to Target and Costco for household supplies. A few days later, Jimenez began feeling ill, but assumed it was because she had gone outside on the balcony without a jacket the previous night. When she didn’t get better, however, Augustus suggested that the family get tested for COVID-19.

Jimenez's test came back positive. 

Her symptoms quickly got worse. "You could see her whole mood change," said Augustus. "She didn’t have any energy. Her whole aura changed. I felt so bad."

On Feb. 4, Jimenez decided to go to Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, which was the last time Augustus saw her in person.

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At the hospital, doctors told her that COVID-19 had damaged her lungs and she would need an emergency C-section to relieve her breathing. 

Ashton was delivered on Feb. 13, but there were still problems with Jimenez's lungs. Her oxygen levels were low. Eventually, she was transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Pregnant women who have COVID-19 are more likely to develop respiratory complications requiring intensive care, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more likely to be placed on a ventilator.

Before Jimenez was transferred and put on a ventilator, Augustus and Christian spoke to her via video call and it was clear that the conversation gave her joy, said Augustus. In previous video calls, she did not have the energy to speak, but Augustus would stay on the line, holding Christian so she could see him.

"He saw her and was excited," Augustus said. "It was like he was trying to speak to her. That was the last time we saw her. It was a happy moment so at least she was intubated with a happy thought."

After arriving at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Joanna was placed on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a heart and lung bypass machine.

"I thought things were going well, but overnight from Saturday to Sunday, things just went left," Augustus said. She died on Sunday, Feb. 21, at age 36. 

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Things still feel surreal to Augustus, especially with how quickly it all happened. 

"Instead of telling a story about a family member who passed away, it feels like we are writing a script for a movie," Augustus said. "A sad movie. Everyone is just in shock."

His wife will never see her younger sons’ first days of school or the eldest son’s high school graduation.

"As I’ll tell the children as they get older, their mom would want the best for them and to stay strong," said Augustus. "Doing good in school, graduating and moving forward in life to make the best of yourself would just make her proud. She would be smiling down and be happy."

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Augustus and his sons. Augustus felt uneasy asking for financial support, but the campaign has been a blessing in disguise, bringing love and support from friends, family and even strangers.

Augustus is also full of gratitude for the nurses and others who took care of his family. 

Ashton is doing "100% fine"  and Jimenez's mother is tending to the newborn, something that brings her a small amount of relief.  

"That was basically Joanna’s gift to us," said Augustus. "A mother should never have to bury their child, so Ashton is a piece of Joanna that she left behind. This is what’s keeping her going every day and somewhat relieving the pain."

To contribute, visit gofundme.com/f/help-support-joanna-jimenezs-3-beautiful-boys

Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: noda@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @snoda11