MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Takira Koonce was a fighter.
Despite her leg being amputated, the 26-year-old was hitting the gym and living life as normally as possible.
After her sudden death last week, her family is figuring out how to live without her.
From a young age, Koonce loved animals.
Her godmother Carla Harris said she was happiest with animals.
“Bubbly, outgoing,” said Harris. “I mean, just the spirit just exuberates animal lover.”
Koonce was defined by her gentle nature, but the other side of her was determined, strong, and athletic.
The former track star was tested in ways few could imagine.
In 2022, she contracted COVID after a birthday trip to Aruba, the complications so severe her leg had to be amputated.
“Everybody is always telling me I’m recovering like amazing, faster than they expected,” she said at the time.
But Koonce persevered, her amputation pushing her to work harder and get stronger, going to the gym several days a week
“Like even everything that she was going through, you couldn’t hold her back,” said Harris.
In the new year, Koonce became sick again, this time with the flu, and she was rushed to the hospital.
“It began to attack her heart, and her heart was at like 20%,” said Harris.
There was nothing more doctors could do.
Her death comes amid a record-breaking flu season with hospitalizations and deaths on the rise.
So far, 7,400 deaths have been reported as a result of the flu nationwide. The CDC says data shows flu-like activity reached the highest level on record since it began keeping track in the 1990’s.
For Koonce’s family, she is more than a statistic, as they now must navigate sudden grief.
“That was not the outcome that we expected because she’s had episodes where she’s gotten sick before, so it definitely wasn’t something that we expected,” said Tamaiah Koonce, Takira’s sister.
Her family’s message to those who are immunocompromised is to take extra precautions this flu season.
Tamaiah Koonce said life will never be the same, but her sister will always be remembered.
“It was just a blessing to have her as a sister and grow up with her,” she said.
A fundraiser was created to help support the family during their time of need, and it can be found by clicking here.
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