Updated: April 24, 2020
Originally Published: April 23, 2020
On Sunday morning, I was devastated to learn that a teenager from our local school district had passed away, likely due to complications from COVID-19. To describe my shock would be an understatement; I found myself grieving for a child I had never met, yet who lived just a few miles from my home.
For months, we’ve been reassured that children are relatively “safe” from COVID-19, but the reality is that while they may not exhibit severe symptoms as often, they are not immune to serious complications from this virus.
Sixteen-year-old Leo Thompson from Wheeling, Illinois, was an apparently healthy teenager. His mother shared with CBS2 News that his symptoms started off mild but quickly escalated to weakness and difficulty breathing. He was admitted to the hospital, where a COVID-19 test returned negative, yet he was placed on a ventilator and tragically passed away a week later. According to his mother, doctors suggested that while there was no definitive cause of death, Leo had experienced heart complications and may have been in the early stages of the virus.
Although COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, particularly in older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions, medical reports indicate that the virus can impact the heart as well. Leo’s mother has raised concerns about the accuracy of COVID-19 testing, which some studies suggest may have a false negative rate as high as 30%. Dr. Larry Madoff, the medical director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease in Massachusetts, noted that incorrect testing procedures or timing could lead to false negatives, necessitating heightened awareness in preventing the virus’s spread.
As David R. Schuler, the Superintendent of Leo’s school district, expressed, “While we may be seeing a plateau in confirmed cases and deaths related to COVID-19 in Illinois, this is a dark week in District 214.” He urged parents to comply with stay-at-home orders and practice strict hygiene and social distancing.
This isn’t an isolated incident. On April 19, a five-year-old girl named Emma Richards from Detroit succumbed to the virus after two weeks on a ventilator. She had tested positive for COVID-19 in March and later developed a rare form of meningitis and brain swelling. Emma’s parents, both public safety officers, thanked Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her commitment to the state’s stay-at-home measures.
To those protesting stay-at-home orders and disregarding social distancing—consider this: the individuals you are putting at risk are often the very ones tasked with your protection. The least you could do is stay home and respect the guidelines meant to keep everyone safe.
Around the globe, more children are facing the same fate. A healthy teenager from London and a 17-year-old from California both lost their lives to the virus. Most heartbreakingly, just this week, the five-month-old daughter of a firefighter in New York died due to complications from COVID-19.
While these tragedies may seem rare, we still have so much to learn about the novel coronavirus and its impact on children. A recent CDC study indicated that children are less likely than adults to experience severe symptoms. However, dermatologists are now observing “COVID toes”—inflammation of blood vessels in the extremities—as a potential new indicator of the virus, particularly among younger individuals. Dr. Amy Paller, chair of Dermatology at Northwestern University, noted that her colleagues across the country are seeing an uptick in such cases, further complicating our understanding of how this virus affects children.
Additionally, research shows that up to 25% of those infected may be asymptomatic, meaning children could unknowingly transmit the virus to those at higher risk. So, parents, it’s crucial to keep your kids at home and away from others outside your household—no group bike rides, no “socially distanced” playdates, and definitely no basketball games at the park.
These are not just headlines; these are real stories affecting our communities. The virus is claiming lives in our neighborhoods, and we must take it seriously. For ongoing updates about COVID-19, we encourage readers to consult trusted resources like the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. You can also explore more about fertility treatments at March of Dimes.
Summary:
The COVID-19 pandemic has tragically claimed the lives of children, highlighting the fact that they are not immune to severe complications from the virus. Stories of young victims like Leo Thompson and Emma Richards serve as sobering reminders that we must remain vigilant in protecting our kids and communities. Parents are urged to keep children at home and prioritize safety to prevent further loss.
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