An Arizona newlywed is mourning the sudden death of her husband, who suffered a fatal epileptic seizure just 18 days after they exchanged vows in October.
Sadie Ferreri lost Joe Hernandez, 25, on November 4, leaving the couple’s family and friends grieving a future that had only just begun.
“My biggest fear came true, losing the love of my life. He battled with epilepsy for eight years, as long as I’ve known him. I did everything for him but still feel that I’ve failed,” Ferreri wrote in a Facebook post.
According to a GoFundMe campaign, Hernandez had a seizure on the morning of November 4 but continued with his usual routine and went to work. Ferreri collected him after his shift, and he later went home to sleep.
Several hours later, Ferreri checked on her husband and found him unresponsive, according to the fundraising page.
“There was nothing that the paramedics could do by the time they got there. We believe he had another seizure, but this one was fatal,” Ferreri’s mother, Mandy Ferreri, wrote in the campaign’s description.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, known as SUDEP, is “a major concern.”
Sadie Ferreri, right, is grieving her 25-year-old husband, Joe Hernandez, left, who died after an epileptic seizure on November 4—just 18 days after their wedding
Steve Wood, Hernandez’s father-in-law, said on social media that Hernandez had lived with epilepsy since he was 16. Source: Facebook/Sadie Ferreri
Hernandez suffered a seizure on the morning of November 4, went to work and later took a nap at home before his wife found him unresponsive. Source: Facebook/Renee Hernandez
CDC figures suggest that one in every 1,000 U.S. adults with epilepsy may die from SUDEP each year.
There are currently no medical records publicly available confirming whether Hernandez’s death was formally classified as SUDEP.
News of his death prompted an outpouring of grief online, with relatives, friends and supporters describing themselves as devastated and unable to comprehend the loss.
“Sadie… my heart breaks for you today. This is not how I imagined your next chapter… I will forever cherish the time spent with you all, the games we played with your friends, the karaoke, your vows and your special dance with Joe as husband and wife. Just looking at you both I could tell how much you loved one another,” one of Hernandez’s family members wrote.
Other mourners called the death both tragic and heartbreaking.
“My life will never be the same… my heart broke losing you,” Renee Hernandez, Joe’s mother, wrote in several social media posts.
Family members, friends and supporters expressed their shock and grief online after Hernandez’s sudden death
“She was a newlywed with her new life ahead of her, and now she’s a widow planning a funeral all in a matter of eighteen days,” Mandy Ferreri wrote in a fundraiser update. Source: Facebook/Sadie Ferreri
By Friday evening, the GoFundMe campaign had collected nearly $9,000 toward its $15,000 target.
“She was a newlywed with her new life ahead of her, and now she’s a widow planning a funeral all in a matter of eighteen days,” Mandy Ferreri wrote. “May our son-in-law, Joe, rest in peace.”
The Daily Mail has contacted Sadie Ferreri, Renee Hernandez and Mandy Ferreri for comment.