More than 202,000 US children have lost one or both parents to Covid-19, according estimates from Imperial College London. And the number of children robbed of their parents keeps growing. While life in the US might seem more like it did before Covid-19, the disease is still claiming hundreds of American lives every day — including young parents who likely never imagined leaving their children to grow up without them. Here’s what some children and families who have lost young parents to the pandemic want everyone else to know. A newly single mom and 3 grieving children face an uncertain futureJessica is still grappling with the reality of never seeing her Papa Bear again. “I never thought we would be in this position so soon … to think that he’s not coming back,” she said. Jessica and her dad had a evening ritual of cuddling up on a big, comfy chair and watching TV until Jessica fell asleep in her dad’s arms. Now, Jessica curls up on that chair alone. Barrios and her daughter are trying to raise awareness about long Covid — and how it can be excruciating physically, mentally, financially and emotionally. “This isn’t going to go away anytime soon,” Summer Barrios said. “Long-haulers are having to decide between working or losing their jobs or choosing treatment — if they’re lucky enough to even get into a long-hauler clinic.”Kids need to take Covid-19 seriously, too, Jessica said.”It’s not just a bad flu. It’s affecting not just older people; it’s affecting kids, too,” she said. “People need to start taking this seriously and do their part to help try and calm down this virus.” …
These children lost young parents to Covid-19. Here’s what they want other kids — and adults — to know – CNN
