
Mask-wearing has been hailed as one of the easiest ways we can all keep ourselves and others safe from COVID-19.
That said, people are still resistant. Masks can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, they reason. They have strong feelings about mask-wearing mandates and their freedom.
No one's feelings are as strong as those of a grieving mother. Elda McNew of Atlantic Beach, Florida, is mourning the loss of her 12-year-old daughter, Emily. Emily contracted COVID-19 from her father, who is in law enforcement. The family took many precautions, yet both Elizabeth and her father fell ill.
After 10 days in the hospital, Emily succumbed to the virus. Now, her mother is sharing her story and trying to share a simple message with America. She's calling for a return to compassion and care for one's neighbor. If wearing a mask can mean the difference between life and death for you or someone else in your community, why wouldn't you just do it?
Elda McNew is grappling with an unthinkable loss. The mom from Atlantic Beach, Florida, recently said goodbye to her 12-year-old daughter. Elizabeth McNew died on September 25 after 10 days in the hospital battling COVID-19.
The McNew family was being careful. They wore masks, practiced good hand hygiene, and were mindful of the need to leave the house. Elizabeth and her brother, 15-year-old Liam, even went to school virtually.
"We had taken all the precautions," Elda told Today.
Elizabeth's father, Brad McNew, works in law enforcement. He was taking extra precautions when coming home to his family, even sanitizing his shoes before he entered the home. In early September, he developed a cough but thought it was his annual bout of bronchitis.
Elizabeth also began to experience symptoms, but they seemed like seasonal allergies and nothing too serious. Brad would eventually see a doctor, who also thought it was bronchitis but issued a COVID-19 test anyway. By the time Brad got his positive results, Elizabeth's symptoms had worsened.
"Even though my husband tested positive, his symptoms were very mild to moderate," Elda said.
"It became very clear that Elizabeth was not just having allergies … She came and said, 'I can't breathe exactly good.'"
Elda took Elizabeth to Wolfson Children's Hospital. She was able to stay with Elizabeth because she never tested positive or even experienced a fever during that time. She wanted to be able to comfort her daughter and was happy to have the chance to.
"I never left for 10 days," she said.
At the hospital, Elizabeth had a tracheostomy and was put on medications to manage her symptoms and pain. She could answer questions with a "yes" or "no."
Elda wanted to keep Elizabeth's spirits up. She tried explaining how much support her daughter had from friends and family, but that fact would sometimes make Elizabeth emotional.
"I wanted to tell her how many people loved her and that Daddy's praying and [her] brother's praying," Elda explained.
"She would start crying. So I just began touching her and saying, 'I'm here.'"
It was also incredibly emotional for Elda. She was comforted by how hard health care workers rallied for Elizabeth. They even invited her to the team meetings where Elizabeth's case was being discussed so that Elda could understand what they were facing.
"Her [infection] seemed to just be more intense and a little more complicated," she said.
On September 25, after 10 days in the hospital, Elizabeth died. The hospital staff offered Elda their condolences, as well as apologies.
"Each one of the doctors or nurses … said, 'I'm so sorry that I couldn't do a better job,' or 'I couldn't save her,'" Elda recalled.
"I was like, 'Are you kidding me? I saw you in there. You were doing everything,'" Elda continued. "I was just absolutely stunned at the humbleness and veracity they had. They wanted to save her."
Elizabeth's family is devastated by her loss, but wants to remember the incredible things she contributed to the world in her short time here.
Elizabeth was an artist whose projects are all around the family home. She made garden fairy dwellings out of old dollhouses and accessories. She made stepping stones for the family yard with her Girl Scout Troop. She loved music and hoped to audition for a solo this Christmas.
Elizabeth also had a special way of reaching people. "She had friends everywhere," Elda said.
"She didn't care if you were just born or 100 years old. She would stop and talk to you and give you a hug or help you."
A classmate of Elizabeth's agreed. He told Elda people would often go to Elizabeth for advice.
"He said, 'I saw her go to children that were just having a bad day and she would comfort and talk to them,'" Elda shared.
"She took all the things that I had taught her — and her father had taught her — and she created a world that we had no idea existed."
Elda hopes that by sharing Elizabeth's story, she can spread her daughter's compassion and love for others.
"If you kept one germ droplet from just accidentally getting on another person, you have been a hero, and all it took was an annoying little mask," Elda said.
"I would like people to think of the Golden Rule: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' Because we need to find some love and compassion for each other."
"We all need to think about each other," Elda added. "Masks are uncomfortable and they're annoying, and here in Florida, they fog up your glasses. I know it is hard. But it's harder to plan a funeral. It's harder to watch your daughter struggle for breath for 10 days."
A GoFundMe has been started to help the McNew family as they continue to navigate this difficult time.