'Dawson's Creek' writer Heidi Ferrer has died aged 50 following a 13-month battle with long COVID.
Heidi Ferrer
The screenwriter's husband Nick Guthe revealed his significant other took her own life "before her condition worsened" after "intense suffering" from coronavirus, which "took every part of her life away".
In a post on her blog 'Girl to Mom', he wrote: "To all of Heidi’s readers,
"This is Heidi’s husband, Nick, passing along the tragic news that we lost our beautiful Angel due to Long Haul Covid, May 26th, 2021. The excruciating physical pain and inability to sleep from the pain led Heidi to the decision she would rather leave this world on her own terms before her condition worsened more.
"We have intentionally not shared that on social media as many of Bexon’s friends’ parents are on Facebook. As so many children are struggling with the mental stress of the Pandemic, we wanted to protect them without knowing how their parents might share it. We are not hiding it as the mental strain of Long Haul Covid sufferers is a public health crisis that must be addressed quickly.
"Heidi loved hearing from all of you and she never would have made this decision if not for her intense suffering from Long Haul Covid. Over 13 months it took every part of her life away: Her mobility, her enjoyment of food as she had to eat a very restrictive diet, and, in the end, her ability to sleep and even to read books and enjoy them. (sic)"
Nick - who has 13-year-old son Bexon with Heidi - also shared a post on his wife's Facebook account:
He wrote: "This is Heidi's husband, Nick Guthe, to pass along the heartbreaking news that Heidi, our beloved, passed away last night after a 13 month battle with Long Haul Covid. She fought it like she lived, ferociously, but in the end it was relentless and took away everything from her. We are still just beginning to process the depth of our loss. I will not be able to check her page all the time. Please find me on FB and feel free to message me if you would like to. It gives us strength to hear from those that loved her. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program in her memory. This is the non-profit that saved Bexon's spine. This organization gave us everything and it is what she would want. Godspeed, my Angel, I'll see you down the road. (sic)"
Heidi contracted coronavirus in April 2020, and she was later bedridden a few months later.
In January, the 'Wasteland' writer admitted she was "cautiously optimistic" her condition was improving "slowly but surely every month".
She posted on her blog: "I’m cautiously optimistic that I’m still improving slowly but surely every month. I had over 40 scary and even crippling Long Covid symptoms in July.
"Now I’m down to a few frustrating ones, but sooo much better.
"I have better, very good days and a few bad days here and there.
"I would describe what remains as inflammation, because of the ebb and flow.
"Post viral syndrome is a known thing and it may be our body’s overactive autoimmune response.
"This can go on for months, up to a year, 18 months or maybe 2 years.
"Gosh, hopefully not that long!
"I’m about 10 months in, but I’m feeling more of a lightness of spirit, lately. (sic)"