Husband of Uvalde Hero Teacher Dies of a Heart Attack Due to Grief

Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, the Uvalde hero teacher who protected her students in exchange for her life, has died of a heart attack two days after the tragic school shooting.

Family members said that Joe, 50, was broken-hearted over losing his wife. He was at his wife's memorial on Thursday, May 26, to drop off some flowers. When he got home, however, Joe "pretty much fell over," according to his nephew, John Martinez.

People reported that there were efforts to revive Joe with chest compressions, suggesting he had a heart attack, but Martinez said that his uncle was in deep sorrow. Joe's death leaves four orphaned children, between the ages of 23 and 13.

Read Also: Dad of Uvalde Shooting Survivor Tells Parents to Hug Their Kids Every Day; Mom Recounts Nightmare

Irma Was Proud of Her Kids

Irma, 49, was one of two teachers killed by an 18-year-old gunman who fired at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Reports cited that she tried to shield the other kids, whom she had always treated like her own children.

In her profile on the Robb Elementary School website, Irma was proud to share their children's accomplishments. Their eldest son, Cristian, 23, is at a Marine boot camp while their second son, Jose, 19, is a student at Texas State University. The couple had two daughters, Lyliana, 15, and Alysandra, 13, who were just beginning their life as teenagers.

Joe and Irma were described as high school sweethearts who were married for nearly 25 years. A friend wrote in the GoFundMe page set up for the family that the tragedy was likely too much to bear for Joe because Irma was the "love of his life."

As of press time, the fundraiser has since raised $623,054 with nearly 15,000 donors worldwide, while the second fundraiser, originally meant for Irma's funeral expenses, has recouped more than half a million dollars as well.

Uvalde Parents Torn

Meanwhile, many parents whose kids go to Robb Elementary School feel torn because their children survived the school shooting but 19 others died.

Mom Amber Gonzales told NBC News that she is thankful her 8-year-old was unharmed but while she feels blessed, she also can't be happy for the other families. Grandmother Rosa Menchaca said she feels conflicted as well. She feels selfish for thanking God that her grandchild survived the attack knowing that other families are grieving.

Mom Rosa Arizmendi can't express her joy for her daughter's safety because she also lost her niece, Eliahna Garcia, in the tragedy. Her husband, Roland Arizmendi, said that images of Eliahna waving goodbye at them at school drop-offs with their daughter will gnaw on him.

One of the moms also expressed that her daughter does not want to go back to the school where her friends died. The mother is hoping for more security in schools if the gun laws in the U.S. won't change.

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