Laila Dominguez never thought she should grow up so fast. When Covid-19 hit both her parents last winter, the 13-year-old helped look after her two younger siblings and care for her mother, who was seriously ill and had a severe chill. “The cold chills were bad. We were shaking like it was in Antarctica or something,” said the girl from Troy, Wisconsin. Her mom, Amanda Nelson, felt like she was being hit by a train. “It was difficult even to get up and move,” said the 42-year-old. But “I could not go to the hospital because I was the only parent at home.” The children’s father, Benny Dominguez, was already being treated for Covid-19 – and in a much worse condition. The 43-year-old, who enjoyed cycling with his children and playing with them in the park, was intubated and could no longer breathe on his own. On Jan. 10, when Dominguez’s condition worsened, Nelson faced a painful decision: try to see her longtime partner for the last time or stay with their children – ages 13, 9 and 4 – who are not they could go to the hospital. “It was really hard to explain to the kids why they were not allowed to go there because of their age. So no one had to say goodbye,” Nelson said. “I did not go because I had to be here for the children. I could not leave them because I knew what was happening. … They knew they would lose their dad.” To Laila, the nightmare did not seem real. “I was in a state of shock, disbelief and sadness. Sometimes, I am still in a state of shock,” Laila said. Sometimes, “it will really get dark, a lot. And sometimes it’s too much for me.” Her family home, which used to be filled with her dad’s noisy laughter, is now terribly quiet. And sadness is now exacerbated by anxiety about the future. Dominguez was a stay-at-home dad who cared for Laila, 9-year-old Aurora and 4-year-old Benny, who has special needs. Nelson juggled bartenders and waitresses to support the family. But Nelson has not been able to work since the death of her partner. She is overwhelmed by her own grief, while caring for three desperate children on her own. “I just catch up and live on what I had in savings,” he said. Nelson has only a few months’ savings, he said. Soon, he will have to find a job. And 13-year-old Laila is likely to take on more responsibilities, including caring for her brother and sister. Her recent experience caring for her injured siblings led to a panic attack. “It must have been stressful for me. I can not explain it,” said Laila. But since her dad’s death, Laila has acquired a strong new ability: the ability to resist bullies who make fun of her because she wears a mask. Before, Laila tried to ignore such ridicule. Now, he responds with a painful raw response: “My dad is dead.” Some bullies were surprised and indeed learned from her unexpected response, Laila said. She hopes more children will learn from her story and take Covid-19 seriously. “What I wish they knew about Covid is how dangerous it… and be more aware of what they are saying.”
A 5-year-old boy saw his mother collapse
As a four-time cancer survivor, Katie Klosterman always thought she would be the one to worry about Covid-19 – not her healthy, lively 24-year-old daughter, Tina Owens.
But during the Delta Outbreak, when more young people were being treated, Owens collapsed on the living room floor of her Texas apartment.
The only other person in the house was Owens’s 5-year-old son, Tai. He had just finished his first day in kindergarten.
“Knowing that his last vision for his mother is things coming out of her nose and mouth … it breaks my heart,” Klosterman said.
Owens told her son to go pick up their neighbor – a certified nurse assistant. The neighbor rushed in, called 911 and started squeezing – but to no avail.
Owens died at 6:44 p.m. That afternoon, Tai was taken into custody by the Child Protection Agency.
When Klosterman learned of her daughter’s death a few hours later, she jumped on the next flight to San Antonio to bring her grandson to Florida.
“When I got there the next day and I went and got him from CPS care, I sat him down and explained to him that mom was in paradise,” Klosterman said.
“You can not see or touch her like you. But she is here. She is always near you,” the grandmother told the boy. “It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to cry.”
Covid-19 not only stole Tye’s mother, but also her plans for a new life for them.
Despite the challenges of becoming a teenage mom, Owens excelled at school and was on her way to starting her dream career.
“She was actually a full-time (studying) physiotherapy student – a 4.0 student,” Klosterman said. “She absolutely loved it. She ran her life.”
Klosterman said her daughter also pledged to be vaccinated against Covid-19. But he got sick before he was fully vaccinated.
“You do not expect a 24-year-old to die,” Klosterman said.
Owens was a fan of TikTok and recorded many videos. Klosterman is now sharing her daughter TikTok videos with her grandson.
“I’m trying to make sure she remembers her voice,” she said. “I will play with him to make him feel more alive for her.”
But raising a Covid orphan can be extremely difficult. Tye, now 6, sometimes talks about traumatic details, such as “something coming out of mom’s nose and mouth.”
Klosterman holds her own grief and will not let herself cry until Tye falls asleep, he said.
And she had to change from a grandmother abusing her grandchild to a parent figure in power – something that can be difficult for a child to accept.
For others who are suddenly orphaned by Covid, Klosterman advises treating every member of the family – and parenting lessons for grandparents like her.
“A lot of parenting roles have changed since we raised our children,” Klosterman said. “And as a grandparent, you do it from the beginning.”
An EMT who was at the forefront of the pandemic will not see his son following in his footsteps
While many teens try to get away from their parents, Connor Luensman could not get enough of his father, James. Just like his father, Conor starred as a high school wrestler – even making his college team debut in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They also shared their passion for helping others. James proudly served his community as an EMT. Connor has enrolled in an EMT program for next year. “I always wanted to be in the medical field, for sure,” said Connor, now 17. “I’ve been surrounded by this my whole life. My dad did it since I was born. So it was natural.” But James will never see his son fulfill this dream. In October 2020, just weeks before healthcare workers were given the right to be vaccinated, James Luensman became ill with Covid-19. Even though he was seriously ill, Luensman hoped to recover, be vaccinated, and return to help patients as soon as possible. “He did not want others to feel like him,” Connor said. But Luensman’s condition worsened. Conor remembers his last conversation with his lifelong idol. She told him, “Do not give up, and that I loved him.” James Luensman died on October 30, 2020. He was 43 years old. A few months later, on the first day Conor became eligible for vaccination, he went and was vaccinated with his mother Sallie Luensman. “I wanted to do it for my dad because he never had the chance,” Connor said. “I almost felt like I was there.” Connor has now received three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with no major side effects. This is amazing because Connor has always been allergic to vaccines. “So whenever he gets a vaccine, we always have to take a high dose of antibiotics and a high dose of steroids on top,” said Sallie Luensman. But with the Covid-19 vaccine, “this was the first vaccine he never had a reaction to.” Luenmans are comforted to know that their tragedy has inspired others to be vaccinated. “Other family members and other friends have been vaccinated specifically for James, in his honor, because we all know and have seen how traumatic it can be to lose someone who made a difference,” said Sally Luensman. Conor wants everyone – even children – to understand the importance of the Covid-19 vaccine, he said. “It’s not just for you,” he said. “It’s about protecting everyone else.”
A dad’s girl thought her father’s bear was getting better. He did not do it
For as long as she can remember, 13-year-old Jessica Barrios and her father were inseparable.
She often dreamed of celebrating important milestones with her dad, Julio “Robert” Barrios. The celebration of Sweet 16. First time behind the wheel of a car. Walking down the aisle at her wedding.
But Robert will not be there for any of these events. He became ill with Covid-19 in June 2020 and was hospitalized for 81 days. After being released, he faced Covid for more than a year at his home in Seneca, South Carolina.
The annoying symptoms included shortness of breath from damaged lungs, extreme fatigue, memory problems and a lack of endurance – “he can not do even simple housework,” said his wife Summer Barrios.
“Staying long enough to handle the dishes or even crouching down to take the clothes out of the dryer or taking a shower will sometimes exhaust him, feeling like he has a severe case of the flu.”
Robert’s health took a catastrophic turn on March 22, when he died at the age of 49. His obituary said he died of a “massive heart attack caused by complications from Covid 19”.
“Before Covid, I never thought I would be a widow at 41,” Summer Barrios said.
Jessica is still struggling with the fact that she will never see her Papa Bear again.
“I never thought we would be in this position so soon … to think he would not return,” he said.
Jessica and her dad had a …
title: “These Children Lost New Parents To Covid 19. Here S What Other Children And Adults Want To Know " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-01” author: “Betty Woomer”
Laila Dominguez never thought she should grow up so fast. When Covid-19 hit both her parents last winter, the 13-year-old helped look after her two younger siblings and care for her mother, who was seriously ill and had a severe chill. “The cold chills were bad. We were shaking like it was in Antarctica or something,” said the girl from Troy, Wisconsin. Her mom, Amanda Nelson, felt like she was being hit by a train. “It was difficult even to get up and move,” said the 42-year-old. But “I could not go to the hospital because I was the only parent at home.” The children’s father, Benny Dominguez, was already being treated for Covid-19 – and in a much worse condition. The 43-year-old, who enjoyed cycling with his children and playing with them in the park, was intubated and could no longer breathe on his own. On Jan. 10, when Dominguez’s condition worsened, Nelson faced a painful decision: try to see her longtime partner for the last time or stay with their children – ages 13, 9 and 4 – who are not they could go to the hospital. “It was really hard to explain to the kids why they were not allowed to go there because of their age. So no one had to say goodbye,” Nelson said. “I did not go because I had to be here for the children. I could not leave them because I knew what was happening. … They knew they would lose their dad.” To Laila, the nightmare did not seem real. “I was in a state of shock, disbelief and sadness. Sometimes, I am still in a state of shock,” Laila said. Sometimes, “it will really get dark, a lot. And sometimes it’s too much for me.” Her family home, which used to be filled with her dad’s noisy laughter, is now terribly quiet. And sadness is now exacerbated by anxiety about the future. Dominguez was a stay-at-home dad who cared for Laila, 9-year-old Aurora and 4-year-old Benny, who has special needs. Nelson juggled bartenders and waitresses to support the family. But Nelson has not been able to work since the death of her partner. She is overwhelmed by her own grief, while caring for three desperate children on her own. “I just catch up and live on what I had in savings,” he said. Nelson has only a few months’ savings, he said. Soon, he will have to find a job. And 13-year-old Laila is likely to take on more responsibilities, including caring for her brother and sister. Her recent experience caring for her injured siblings led to a panic attack. “It must have been stressful for me. I can not explain it,” said Laila. But since her dad’s death, Laila has acquired a strong new ability: the ability to resist bullies who make fun of her because she wears a mask. Before, Laila tried to ignore such ridicule. Now, he responds with a painful raw response: “My dad is dead.” Some bullies were surprised and indeed learned from her unexpected response, Laila said. She hopes more children will learn from her story and take Covid-19 seriously. “What I wish they knew about Covid is how dangerous it… and be more aware of what they are saying.”
A 5-year-old boy saw his mother collapse
As a four-time cancer survivor, Katie Klosterman always thought she would be the one to worry about Covid-19 – not her healthy, lively 24-year-old daughter, Tina Owens.
But during the Delta Outbreak, when more young people were being treated, Owens collapsed on the living room floor of her Texas apartment.
The only other person in the house was Owens’s 5-year-old son, Tai. He had just finished his first day in kindergarten.
“Knowing that his last vision for his mother is things coming out of her nose and mouth … it breaks my heart,” Klosterman said.
Owens told her son to go pick up their neighbor – a certified nurse assistant. The neighbor rushed in, called 911 and started squeezing – but to no avail.
Owens died at 6:44 p.m. That afternoon, Tai was taken into custody by the Child Protection Agency.
When Klosterman learned of her daughter’s death a few hours later, she jumped on the next flight to San Antonio to bring her grandson to Florida.
“When I got there the next day and I went and got him from CPS care, I sat him down and explained to him that mom was in paradise,” Klosterman said.
“You can not see or touch her like you. But she is here. She is always near you,” the grandmother told the boy. “It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to cry.”
Covid-19 not only stole Tye’s mother, but also her plans for a new life for them.
Despite the challenges of becoming a teenage mom, Owens excelled at school and was on her way to starting her dream career.
“She was actually a full-time (studying) physiotherapy student – a 4.0 student,” Klosterman said. “She absolutely loved it. She ran her life.”
Klosterman said her daughter also pledged to be vaccinated against Covid-19. But he got sick before he was fully vaccinated.
“You do not expect a 24-year-old to die,” Klosterman said.
Owens was a fan of TikTok and recorded many videos. Klosterman is now sharing her daughter TikTok videos with her grandson.
“I’m trying to make sure she remembers her voice,” she said. “I will play with him to make him feel more alive for her.”
But raising a Covid orphan can be extremely difficult. Tye, now 6, sometimes talks about traumatic details, such as “something coming out of mom’s nose and mouth.”
Klosterman holds her own grief and will not let herself cry until Tye falls asleep, he said.
And she had to change from a grandmother abusing her grandchild to a parent figure in power – something that can be difficult for a child to accept.
For others who are suddenly orphaned by Covid, Klosterman advises treating every member of the family – and parenting lessons for grandparents like her.
“A lot of parenting roles have changed since we raised our children,” Klosterman said. “And as a grandparent, you do it from the beginning.”
An EMT who was at the forefront of the pandemic will not see his son following in his footsteps
While many teens try to get away from their parents, Connor Luensman could not get enough of his father, James. Just like his father, Conor starred as a high school wrestler – even making his college team debut in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They also shared their passion for helping others. James proudly served his community as an EMT. Connor has enrolled in an EMT program for next year. “I always wanted to be in the medical field, for sure,” said Connor, now 17. “I’ve been surrounded by this my whole life. My dad did it since I was born. So it was natural.” But James will never see his son fulfill this dream. In October 2020, just weeks before healthcare workers were given the right to be vaccinated, James Luensman became ill with Covid-19. Even though he was seriously ill, Luensman hoped to recover, be vaccinated, and return to help patients as soon as possible. “He did not want others to feel like him,” Connor said. But Luensman’s condition worsened. Conor remembers his last conversation with his lifelong idol. She told him, “Do not give up, and that I loved him.” James Luensman died on October 30, 2020. He was 43 years old. A few months later, on the first day Conor became eligible for vaccination, he went and was vaccinated with his mother Sallie Luensman. “I wanted to do it for my dad because he never had the chance,” Connor said. “I almost felt like I was there.” Connor has now received three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with no major side effects. This is amazing because Connor has always been allergic to vaccines. “So whenever he gets a vaccine, we always have to take a high dose of antibiotics and a high dose of steroids on top,” said Sallie Luensman. But with the Covid-19 vaccine, “this was the first vaccine he never had a reaction to.” Luenmans are comforted to know that their tragedy has inspired others to be vaccinated. “Other family members and other friends have been vaccinated specifically for James, in his honor, because we all know and have seen how traumatic it can be to lose someone who made a difference,” said Sally Luensman. Conor wants everyone – even children – to understand the importance of the Covid-19 vaccine, he said. “It’s not just for you,” he said. “It’s about protecting everyone else.”
A dad’s girl thought her father’s bear was getting better. He did not do it
For as long as she can remember, 13-year-old Jessica Barrios and her father were inseparable.
She often dreamed of celebrating important milestones with her dad, Julio “Robert” Barrios. The celebration of Sweet 16. First time behind the wheel of a car. Walking down the aisle at her wedding.
But Robert will not be there for any of these events. He became ill with Covid-19 in June 2020 and was hospitalized for 81 days. After being released, he faced Covid for more than a year at his home in Seneca, South Carolina.
The annoying symptoms included shortness of breath from damaged lungs, extreme fatigue, memory problems and a lack of endurance – “he can not do even simple housework,” said his wife Summer Barrios.
“Staying long enough to handle the dishes or even crouching down to take the clothes out of the dryer or taking a shower will sometimes exhaust him, feeling like he has a severe case of the flu.”
Robert’s health took a catastrophic turn on March 22, when he died at the age of 49. His obituary said he died of a “massive heart attack caused by complications from Covid 19”.
“Before Covid, I never thought I would be a widow at 41,” Summer Barrios said.
Jessica is still struggling with the fact that she will never see her Papa Bear again.
“I never thought we would be in this position so soon … to think he would not return,” he said.
Jessica and her dad had a …
