T-Wolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns: Mom in coma, likely has coronavirus

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns said his mother is hospitalized, on a ventilator and in a medically-induced coma after contracting what he believes is the new coronavirus.

Towns talked about the condition of his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, early Wednesday on a video posted to YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. He urged his followers to take COVID-19 seriously and practice social distancing.

“This disease … it’s deadly,” he said. “We’re going to keep fighting this. We’re going to beat it, we’re going to win. I hope my story helps. I hope my story gives you the correct information.”

Towns said both his parents went to the hospital recently and were tested for the disease.

While his father was released and told to quarantine at home, his mother’s condition deteriorated to the point where she was put on a ventilator and placed in a coma. Their tests haven’t come back.

“She just wasn’t getting better,” Towns said. “Her fever wasn’t cutting from 103. It’d maybe go down to 101.9 with the meds then immediately spike back up during the night. She was very uncomfortable. Her lungs were getting worse, cough was getting worse. She was deteriorating in front of our eyes.”

Towns said he’s trying to remain positive attitude as his family deals with the situation.

“My mother, she’s the strongest woman I know and I know she’ll beat this,” Towns said. “We’re going to rejoice when she does.”

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Follow @AZSports