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How much more of this can Karl-Anthony Towns take? The coronavirus (COVID-19) has been an absolute nightmare for the big man for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Towns saw his mother die from complications of the virus in April. Prior to the season, he said six other family members have passed away from it. For Towns, the virus has struck again.

Towns said goodbye to his mother on April 13

On April 13, 2020, Karl-Anthony Towns lost his mother. Jacqueline Cruz-Towns was 59 when she died from complications of COVID-19. She had the virus for about a month when she passed away.

In December, Towns said that not only his mother passed away, but he said a big part of him did as well. According to ESPN, Towns said he is a completely different person after the death of his mother. “I don’t even recognize most of my other games and years I’ve played and how I felt those days,” he said. “If I can be honest with y’all for a second, I mean, I don’t really recall or really care.

“I only know what happened from April 13 on. Because you may see me smiling and stuff, but that Karl died on April 13. He’s never coming back. I don’t remember that man. I don’t know that man. You’re talking to the physical me, but my soul has been killed off a long time ago.”

COVID-19 also took the lives of six other family members

While the loss of Karl-Anthony Towns’ mother was devastating to him, he also endured more pain at the hands of COVID-19. He said he’s lost six other family members to the dreaded virus. In December, he announced he lost his uncle.

“Last night I got a call that I lost my uncle,” Towns said during a December video call with reporters. “I feel like I’ve been hardened a little bit by life and humbled.” Towns’ father also contracted the virus, but has recovered.

“I’ve seen a lot of coffins in the last seven months, eight months,” Towns said. “But I have a lot of people who have — in my family and my mom’s family — who have gotten COVID. I’m the one looking for answers still, trying to find how to keep them healthy. It’s just a lot of responsibility on me to keep my family well-informed and to make all the moves necessary to keep them alive.”

Towns announces he has tested positive for COVID-19

On Friday, the nightmare of COVID-19 continues for Karl-Anthony Towns. He made the announcement that he has contracted the virus. In a statement shared on social media, Towns said he prays that this nightmare of a virus will go away.

“Prior to tonight’s game, I received yet another awful call that I tested positive for COVID,” Towns said on Twitter. “I will immediately isolate and follow every protocol. I pray every day that this nightmare of a virus will subside and I beg everyone to continue to take it seriously by taking all the necessary precautions. …

“It breaks my heart that my family, and particularly my father and sister continue to suffer from the anxiety that comes along with this diagnosis as we know all too well what the end result could be. To my niece and nephew … I promise you I will not end up in a box next to grandma and I will beat this.”

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