More people in Connecticut are grieving in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Chila family is sharing their story of pain and making a public plea in hopes other people won't have to go through what they have.

John Chila's life revolved around his family - his three sons, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

But on March 24, the 79-year-old Bridgeport resident died alone in the hospital like many victims of the pandemic.

"In his final hours, we weren't allowed to be with him, we couldn't go to the hospital," said his son Steve Chila.

The speed of John Chila's decline caught his family off guard. Steve Chila says his father initially was diagnosed with slight pneumonia and sent home with antibiotics.
But the next day, things got worse.

"He was confused, lethargic, couldn't get off the couch, trouble breathing," said Steve Chila.

The family called 911 and within five hours, John Chila was on a ventilator at St. Vincent's Medical Center. He died two days later from complications related to the infection.

"I'm very proud to be his son and I don't know if he really knew that or if I ever told him that," said Steve Chila.

His death is a sobering reality about the potential devastation of this illness for his grandchildren.

"I know personally that I didn't understand the magnitude of it until my grandfather had it and then passed away from it in a matter of three days," said granddaughter Blaire Chila.

"I have voicemails on my phone from him from the past few years saved. They're all him just checking in on me and telling me to give him a call when I have a chance. Now I wish I had the chance to talk to him," said grandson Steven Chila Jr.

The family is urging community members to take the coronavirus seriously.

"I just wanted to say that if you're waiting for something bad to happen to you or someone in your own life, that that's a mistake," said Blaire Chila.

A memorial service for John Chila is on hold.

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