"I'm really just trying to stay strong and keep it together. I understand there are difficult decisions that may need to be made," said Salvador Solis.
MORE: 15 Texas relatives sick with COVID-19 after party 'feel guilty'
15 members of Texas family infected after large party
Gloria's son Salvador says she was in the hospital receiving treatment for an unrelated illness, then she was transferred to a nursing facility for rehabilitation. At some point during this time, Gloria was exposed to the coronavirus.
"Don't let your guard down because this happened while she was in a hospital, in a nursing home, and what that tells me is that it was most likely contracted from someone in the health care field," said Salvador.
She tested positive and remained asymptomatic for over a week. Then the virus progressed. Gloria came down with pneumonia, and infections that required emergency dialysis. She's now on a ventilator, unable to speak.
The rock of the Solis family is missing from her spot at the dinner table.
MORE: OC nurse pleads for people to take COVID seriously
Mission Viejo ICU nurse on the front lines of pandemic pleads for people to people to take COVID seriously
"This Thanksgiving will a little bit more challenging for us. We'll certainly feel the lack of her presence or her absence. We do wish that we could include her. We wish that we could speak to her," said Salvador.
Solis offers a warning to others: Please take this virus seriously. And remember to be thankful for your loved ones and for your health.
"Really just appreciate who you have while you have them," said Salvador. "Cause literally overnight, as it happened to my family, you don't know when you won't have access to that person anymore."
MORE: Nurse's plea to take COVID seriously brings city council to tears
Aurora nurse's plea to take COVID-19 seriously brings city council to tears