Coronavirus hits home for NBA’s Karl-Anthony Towns; mom seriously ill, in coma

As we have been reporting, the coronavirus has taken its toll on the sports world with several athletes testing positive for the virus.

But COVID-19 is also taking a toll on athletes’ families. In an emotional video posted to Instagram, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns revealed that his mother is seriously ill from the virus.

Towns found out last week both his parents, Karl Towns, Sr. and Jacqueline Cruz, were sick. His father was released after a brief quarantined, but his mother’s health deteriorated, leading doctors to put her in a medically induced coma.

“We always thought the next medicine would help,” he said. “The next one would help. This is the one that’s going to get it done. This one will make sure to get it done.”

He said, she felt great one day, and they thought she was finally turning a corner. But then “things went sideways”.

Despite the grim outlook right now, Towns and his family aren’t giving up. They wanted the public to know the COVID-19 threat is very real and people should take care of themselves. “This disease is real,” he said. “This disease needs not to be taken lightly. Please protect your families, your loved ones, your friends, yourself.”

View this post on Instagram

Sharing my story in the hopes that everyone stays at home! We need more equipment and we need to help those medical personnel on the front lines. Thank you to the medical staff who are helping my mom. You are all the true heroes! Praying for all of us at this difficult time.

A post shared by Karl-Anthony Towns (@karltowns) on Mar 24, 2020 at 9:48pm PDT