Armando Ortega was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and pastor of his community. Him and his wife, Vangie, had been together since they were thirteen years old and married for 46 years. Armando was a strong and healthy 65 yr old man with no pre-existing conditions. On December 24, 2020 he was admitted into the hospital with Covid. They couldn’t even give him a bed until the 26th. They put him on steroids, antibiotics and without his or his families consent, they started him on remdesivir. Within days, Armando’s kidneys started to fail. Then a couple days later, the dialysis started. He was not fed and completely isolated from everyone for thirteen days. The staff had him proned but forgot to turn him so the skin on his nose was burned off. They kept pressuring his wife to sign a DNR, over and over she told them not to ask her that. A DNR was not an option.

By January 1st, they ventilated Armando and six days later, he passed away. His family was finally allowed in to see him in his last hours, but that isn’t good enough. His treatment was incorrect, unfair and cruel. He was loved by so many that over 3000 people showed up for his celebration of life. The loss of Armando has devasted his wife and children but also an entire community. We honor Mr. Ortega’s legacy and sacrifice and stand by Vangie to see that justice is served to the ones responsible for taking such a great man at such an early age.

Rest in Peace Armando Ortega