Jeffrey Whitaker
Courtesy of Tina Neyer
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Courtesy of Tina Neyer
Jeffrey Whitaker
Courtesy of Tina Neyer
In March 2020, the World Well being Group declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Two years later, greater than 1,000,000 folks have died in the USA from the illness. To place a face on this quantity and pay respect to the departed, NPR requested our viewers to share songs that reminded them of a liked one misplaced to COVID-19. What follows are particular person tales of those that have handed, these mourning them and the songs that proceed to unite them.
My brother was retired Air Pressure. As a single man, his life was full: Jeff was an aeronautical engineer who did a stint on the transport aircraft that took the area shuttle from Cape Canaveral to Edwards Air Pressure Base. He was an avid bicycle owner. He additionally was totally vaccinated on the time he contracted the virus. As a result of he was being handled for lymphoma on an ongoing foundation, the virus was an excessive amount of for him. I miss our Sunday morning calls, one thing he did each Sunday earlier than heading off to church. They have been our method of connecting throughout the nation, throughout our political variations, throughout the divide of our lives.
The track that involves thoughts is Adele’s “Hi there.” My brother possible did not know this track, however as I sat in his condominium within the Mojave Desert in December final 12 months, trying to scrub out the place, I needed to attach with him indirectly. I’ve performed the track many instances since then. It brings me nearer to him.
Due to circumstances past my management, my brother died alone, however for the loving nurse who assured me he would stick with him as he took his final breath. Adele’s track helps me to consider that indirectly, I maintain related to Jeff. I share this with NPR as a result of it is very important me that he be remembered, that Jeff’s title is claimed. —Tina Neyer, sister
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