An Idaho school principal with seven children died on Wednesday after a two-week battle with COVID.
Javier Castaneda, 48, was principal and superintendent of Heritage Community Charter School in Caldwell, Idaho, a town about 30 miles from Boise.
He was survived by his wife Maria and their seven children.
His vaccination status is currently unknown and the school he worked at was said to be mask optional, according to the Associated Press.
Idaho principal Javier Castaneda, 48, of Heritage Community Charter School died on Wednesday after contracting COVID-19
A GoFundMe Page was created for Castaneda and his family which included his wife Maria and their seven children
Castaneda began showing symptoms on September 4 and was then hospitalized two days later at West Valley Medical Center.
He was put on a ventilator on September 10. He died five days later.
'Hundreds of his friends, family, and community members have reached out and we are so grateful for their love and support in this trying time,' Kristopher Wieland, Maria Castaneda’s brother, told the Idaho Press.
'Many have shared stories of how he has impacted their life.'
'One (person) commented that Dr. Castaneda was always out in front of the school to greet students and parents as they came to school each day,' Wieland told the Idaho Press.
'One time, the school reached their fundraising goal, and Dr. Castaneda had to stay on top of the roof for the day and greeted the kids from there with a blow horn.
'Another talked about her child winning the chance to be Principal of the Day and enjoyed spending the
