Funeral

Last week, I lost my dear friend to Covid-19.  She was an amazing, selfless person who worked as a CNA in a convalescent home.  Due to so many of her co-workers catching Covid, she was pulled to help to specifically work in the Covid unit.  Without hesitation she did, knowing the risk and consequences because she loved her patients.   Unfortunately, her dedication and strong work ethic also took her life.  The week before her unexpected death, she wasn’t feeling well.  She took the necessary precautions and got tested.  One resulted in a negative result and a few days later got tested again.  The following day after the second test, her 14 year old daughter found her not breathing and unresponsive in bed.    She yelled for her sister to come and her sister immediately knew something was wrong and performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on her.  Already probably knowing it was too late, her daughter performed CPR, but their mother was dead.   I couldn’t imagine a child finding her mother dead and the trauma that will follow.  It was the next day after her death when we received confirmation that she tested positive for Covid.

She was a wonderful, kind, loving, selfless single mother to her two daughters.  She raised them with love, faith, and taught them to be independent strong women.  She gave them the best life she could and was the best mother any daughter could ask for.  Unfortunately, nothing could prepare them for this sudden death.   Their mother was their whole life.  One moment, their mother was walking and talking with them in the morning and by the afternoon, she was dead.  The pain I feel is unbelievable but the pain her daughters are feeling is unbearable and unimaginable.  My prayers go out to all the families who have lost a loved one to this horrible pandemic.

Briefly, I would like to talk more about my friend’s life.  She lost her mother at a very young age and had many hardships growing up.  In spite of this, she grew up to be a strong and positive person.  Unfortunately, now her daughters have to experience the loss of a mother at a young age.  She served 11 years in the US Army and had her first daughter during this period of her life and her second daughter 12 years later, while establishing her career and taking care of others.  She was also a single mom who recently found her true love again and was engaged.    

She was best known for calling people “baby, child, or sweetie” because she was born and raised in Louisiana and she kept her bayou manners.   She started her life in Louisiana, settled in Tennessee, and will now be going back home to Louisiana to be laid to rest next to her mother and grandparents.

Now, her eldest daughter will not only be responsible for her 14 year old sister emotionally and physically but financially as well.  She instantly became her mother.  This week, we found out that her youngest daughter tested positive for Covid, while her eldest is still waiting.  This is why I am asking for support for them.  They need help with the cost of the funeral and burial.  With limited resources and with the current economic situation, these girls really need your help and I am faithfully and gratefully asking for help.  Thank you in advance for your prayers and donations.  Please stay safe and take this pandemic seriously.