For children who lost a parent, the pandemic pain will never end
ABC News
For children who lost a parent, the pandemic pain will never end
Aidan Garza (seen above) often talks about his dad in the present tense, as if David Garza were still right across the living room, sitting in his favorite chair, calling the 12-year-old over to watch a "Star Wars" series.
As if he had never collapsed while out running errands on Dec. 30, 2020, in Converse, Texas. As if he had never died of COVID, one of the now 1 million Americans to succumb to the pandemic.
"He's such a warm guy," said Aidan. "Every time I would hug him, I feel like I'm touching a cloud."
No government program at any level is tracking American families such as Aidan and his big brother Julius' in which at least one of a child's primary caregivers has died of COVID, but researchers' estimates put the number at over 181,000.
