A newlywed couple's joy was tragically cut short when the husband died from an epileptic seizure just over two weeks after their wedding. Joe Hernandez, 25, passed away on November 4, only 18 days after marrying Sadie Ferreri.
Ferreri described the loss as her "biggest fear come true," sharing that Hernandez had battled epilepsy for eight years. "I did everything for him but still feel that I've failed," she wrote on Facebook.
According to a GoFundMe page, Hernandez experienced a seizure on the morning of November 4 but continued with his workday. Ferreri picked him up after his shift, and he took a nap at home. She later found him unresponsive.
"There was nothing that the paramedics could do by the time they got there," wrote Mandy Ferreri, Sadie's mother, on the fundraising page. "We believe he had another seizure, but this one was fatal."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) as a significant concern, estimating that about one in 1,000 U.S. adults with epilepsy may die from SUDEP annually. It is not yet confirmed if Hernandez's death was officially classified as SUDEP.
Family and friends expressed shock and devastation on social media. "Sadie…my heart breaks for you today. This is not how I imagined your next chapter," commented one family member, cherishing memories of the couple's wedding vows and first dance. Another described Hernandez's death as "tragic and heartbreaking."
Renee Hernandez, Joe's mother, wrote on social media, "My life will never be the same....my heart broke losing you."
Mandy Ferreri noted the immense change in Sadie's life, stating, "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." A GoFundMe established to support the family had raised nearly $9,000 of its $15,000 goal as of Friday evening.