Amazon Delivery Driver Prayed for Boy With Heart Defect and High COVID-19 Risk
What happened: Raquel and Derek Pearson’s son Lucas has aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), a heart defect that requires food thickeners to prevent him from aspirating. Pearson told KTVB they rely on delivery services for Lucas’ supplies to minimize his COVID-19 risk, and they left a note thanking delivery drivers outside their home. When Amazon delivery driver Monica Salinas saw the note, she took a moment to pray for Lucas, which was caught on the Pearson’s Ring camera.
There was a note and it said their baby’s food was essential, and every time I see that note, it just touches my heart. I just stopped to do what my heart told me to do, to say a prayer for the baby and for the parents, because that’s got to be very painful for all of them to see their baby hurt and struggle. I just prayed that they can make it through another day, one day at a time. –Monica Salinas
#7sHero: We tracked down the @Amazon delivery driver who stopped to say a prayer at one of the houses on her route in Nampa. We’ll tell you why she did it, and why it touched so many hearts. Join us tonight on @KTVB. pic.twitter.com/3m8jqwW7Ui
— Maggie O'Mara (@maggieKTVB7) May 24, 2020
The Frontlines: COVID-19 is a new-to-humans coronavirus that can cause a wide range of symptoms, but is best known to cause respiratory illness. For those like Lucas who have a pre-existing heart or lung condition, the risk of serious complications can be higher. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several best practices to reduce your risk:
- Wear a face mask while around other people, and ask others to do the same around you and your family
- Minimize your time in the community, and when you must go out, maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet from others
- Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer for times when you aren’t able to wash your hands right away
A Mighty Voice: Our contributor, Dino Scanio, shared just one of many concerns parents of medically complex kids have about COVID-19. “As a family, we will now be living with even more concern than ever. Will the friends visiting us pose a risk to our son, or will the family anniversary party cause a problem, a couple of days later?” You can submit your first person story, too.
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From Our Community:
Add your voice: Join The Mighty’s Coronavirus group by downloading our app or comment below.
Other things to know: For more on dealing with the risks and uncertainties of COVID-19, these Mighty articles may help:
- To the Parent Feeling Overwhelmed During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- 5 Tips for Reducing Your Risk of Getting Sick During Global Epidemic
- 8 Soaps You Can Use to Help Prevent the Spread of Illness
More helpful thinking: The CDC released guidance specifically on how to keep kids safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can check out those guidelines here.
Header image screenshot via Derek and Raquel Pearson/KTVB