After the tragic death of a 9-year-old Florida girl due to COVID-19, her family urges people to do what they can to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“I pray that what they take away from history and what they learn is COVID-19 is serious business,” said Dejeon Cain, family spokesman, TODAY. “If we continue on this path, in the same behavior in our state and in our country, we will lose many more lives and many more young lives.”
The family is based in Northeast Florida. The state topped 400,000 total coronavirus cases last week, and averages more than 10,000 new cases per day. As cases increase, public schools are expected to reopen next month, prompting Florida’s largest teachers union to sue Governor Ron DeSantis.
Kimora “Kimmie” Lynum’s death highlights the many unknown questions about how the coronavirus impacts children. Kimmie is believed to be one of the youngest victims of coronavirus in Florida. In July, she contracted COVID-19 and died shortly thereafter. Cain said the family does not want to discuss the details of Kimmie’s disease, but noted that she had no risk factors that would make her more susceptible to COVID-19.
“She had no underlying conditions,” said Cain. “She was a very healthy young woman, and that’s according to the Putnam County Coroner’s Office.”
It is unclear how Kimmie contracted the virus.
TODAY he contacted the Florida Department of Health for a statement, but did not receive a response. Kimmie’s death comes immediately after another family tragedy: Kimmie’s father Theophilus Lynum died approximately a month and a half earlier. Cain said during that funeral that she saw Kimmie have “resistance about her” that the family remembers as they mourn her. Your faith is helping you navigate this challenging time.
“God can keep us together,” said Cain. “It has been very difficult, very difficult … we want to convey the positive message about the things that will strengthen our family.”
The family created a Go Fund Me to help cover the expenses of Kimmie’s funeral. Remembering how optimistic and kind Kimmie was certainly helps the family deal with their pain.
“You will not find a better son. She always had a smile. Always happy, just cheerful, and she brings smiles to others, “said Cain. “She was just remarkable.”
She hopes that by hearing about Kimmie, people will distance themselves socially and wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus and prevent others from losing loved ones.
“This pandemic is definitely catastrophic,” he said. “We need to adjust and get along with the guidelines of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and also understand that social distance is very, very important. And we must take our time to be able to control this virus in our country, in our neighborhoods. ”
