October 4, 2021, is a day that will forever be ingrained in the Hinojosa family’s minds and hearts.

Feeling a bit unwell, Vanessa Amaro Hinojosa thought she simply had the common cold. But things rapidly turned for the worst. In what seemed like an instant, Vanessa was admitted to the hospital, intubated, and sedated. She had contracted COVID-19, and like thousands of others, Vanessa had no idea if she would ever leave the bed again, let alone live.

Before COVID, Vanessa enjoyed life as a stay-at-home wife and mother. She loved the outdoors, spending time with her family, her two favorite dogs, and cooking tacos. Basics like mopping the floors and doing the dishes were part of her everyday life. But after COVID, Vanessa couldn’t even walk, let alone stand.

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