Abel Martinez tells Action 4 News that he was fired from his job after attending the funeral for a Rio Grande Valley woman who died from the swine flu.
Martinez attended the funeral of Mercedes teacher Judy Trunnell on Thursday.
The Valley man says he has been a friend of Judy's husband Steven since high school.
"Judy was a beautiful person,hard working, caring, loving,loved her family," Martinez said. "It's a shame this happened to her."
The 33-year-old woman died last week from complications due to the swine flu.
Those who knew Judy said how she died is not as important as how she lived.
"She loved going to work and the kids she worked with," Martinez said.
Unfortunately, Martinez says some people are focused on the negative.
He tells Action 4 News that his employer at an adult day care center in Harlingen fired him for attending the funeral.
Martinez claims the company was worried that he would be around Judy's family and because of her connection to the swine flu would put their clients at risk.
"For me, to make a choice between coming to the funeral and my job," he said.
Martinez chose to mourn his friend's wife and claims his supervisor fired him because of it.
State health experts tell Action 4 News that if Judy's family and friends did not contract the H1N1 virus by now, then they won't get it.
They reitterate that the swine flu is a mild virus and Judy's unfortunate death was an isolated case.
Martinez says if paying his respects to a great woman and her family meant losing his job, it was worth it.
"I feel for her babies and husband that she left behind," Martinez said. "We're here to support him with whatever he needs. I have better piece of mind that I came. I would have been regretting it if I hadn't."
Click here for a blog from Judy Trunnell's family.
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