Even those who were unfamiliar with the Broadway actor had good thought to pass onto Nick Cordero as he waged his fight with COVID-19. Nick's story was especially scary, as many people assumed that only the elderly would die from the virus. At the time of his death, Nick was 41 — and a relatively new dad.
Nick and his wife Amanda Kloots had welcomed baby Elvis in 2019. And, they had big plans ahead of them. They were preparing for a move to Los Angeles, and were staying with their friend Zach Braff while their house was getting ready.
But then, Nick got sick — it was so bad that he had to enter a medically induced coma while staying at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Before to his death, they had to amputate his leg. Things were looking grim, but Amanda was giving fans updates as soon as she had them.
But unfortunately, Nick didn't make it, leaving Amanda a widow and single mother. It's one of the worst situations you can imagine as you're starting your family. But it was a harsh reminder that coronavirus was serious, affecting more people than a lot of the world had realized during that time.
Yet now, after some time has gone by, Amanda believes she wasn't the best wife to Nick. While fans will disagree, she offered some insight into their relationship that's been on her mind since he got sick. Amanda gave an interview to The New York Times to promote a book that she wrote, and felt comfortable talking about how she wasn't as supportive as she could have been.
Amanda's story is especially unusual, as she was somewhat of an unknown before her husband got sick. Amanda was a dancer and a fitness instructor, but not one that often made headlines. But after the news of Nick went public, people couldn't get enough of her story. They felt for her, and were cheering Nick on. Nick's career was also in its early stages. He was a Tony-nominated actor, but was thinking about the next steps of his career.
According to Amanda, it's the little things she misses the most. "We always grocery shopped together, at the same store and bought the same things," she wrote in her book, reports The New York Times. "Some of those little moments that you would never think of as really mattering have haunted me the most."
In the book, she revealed that she was — thankfully — able to visit Nick in the hospital when so many people weren't able to connect with their loved ones. And, the reason behind that was because Nick had tested negative for COVID-19 at the end of his stay. During his time in the hospital, things were still new, and people were as cautious as they could be. While Amanda wanted to be there as much as possible, she also knew she had a young son at home who needed a healthy parent.
Still, she admits that she wasn't the perfect wife that many people assumed. After hearing of her struggles, Amanda gained a lot of attention and sympathy, and many painted her as the "widow" of COVID-19. Her story was out there, and those facing similar situations with their own loved ones looked to her as a pillar of strength. According to Amanda, there was a lot more she could have done before his death.
"I was not a good wife," she stated. She admitted that her first marriage had ended, and she quickly moved onto Nick, since Nick made her happy. "A lot of people told me, including Nick, 'You shouldn't be dating,'" she admitted. "I'd say, 'Nick, right now I just need to be happy, and you make me happy.'" While they seemed to have many happy moments, it's possible that Amanda wasn't her best self as the relationship progressed.
The two had met during the stage performance of Bullets Over Broadway — which is also how they became friends with Zach Braff. When she learned she was expecting, she ramped up her fitness classes. Nick, on the other hand, was in the middle of seeing if he could make it as a singer/songwriter. During this time, he reportedly rented an East Village studio to work — a move that Amanda wasn't thrilled about at the time.
"I was not understanding any of it," she admitted. "I was like, 'This is a waste of time, and we have no money.' He did not feel supported by me. I wasn't supportive." While Amanda feels bad about not supporting her husband, it seems as if her practical brain was just kicking in. It's not that she thought her husband would fail — it seemed to have been a risky time to take financial chances because they were expecting a baby.
Nick had admitted that he was starting to get burned out by Broadway. Instead, he had hoped to one day act on television or sell his music. "We fought about it for a year," Amanda admitted. "I finally came to a place of, 'This is marriage, you have to compromise.'" But before Nick's vision of his future came to fruition, he caught COVID-19 — and was soon one of the many on a ventilator, fighting for his life.
In times of grief, after losing loved ones, it's easy to look back on the past and think about the things you could have done better. Amanda needs to realize that she acted in ways she thought would be beneficial to her growing family at the time. She was reluctant to move from New York because everyone she knew was there, and Nick had contacts and connections there that he didn't in Los Angeles. She had no idea his days would be numbered.
No matter what, she's still in Los Angeles and pursuing Nick's dreams through Elvis. Elvis will be able to grow up in the neighborhood his dad dreamed of, and will be able to hear so many wonderful stories about who his father was. While it's a shame that Nick was only in his life physically for a short time, Amanda will surely make sure Nick's memory is always recognized.
