Family of Maryland nurse urges people to stay home after she dies from COVID-19

BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) - A family is mourning the loss of a Maryland nurse who they say passed away after contracting the coronavirus.

Liam St.John says his mother Evelyn Caro always had a passion for helping others.

He says at the age of 50 Caro became a registered nurse.

"It was something she wanted to do her entire life. She had always talked about helping people," he said.

Nearly 20 years later, at the age of 69 and in the midst of a pandemic St.John says his mother continued to work part time at a gynecology practice.

St.John, a nurse himself, says his mother developed a fever at the end of March.

Not even two weeks later he says she was hospitalized with the coronavirus.

He says the virus was aggressive.

"I worry that she was at some point was aware during it and opened her eyes and found herself alone which is just a terrifying place to be," he said.

The day before Easter St. John says his mother passed away.

"On the 11th we lost mom," he said.

Now he's hoping to spread awareness that healthcare workers are vulnerable and dying of the coronavirus too.

"Calling us heroes as nurses, healthcare providers, people who are working in hospitals and on the front lines, and even the people in our grocery stores marginalizes I think some of what we're doing out there. You may see it as heroic but we're just as scared as you are," he said. "I would rather have proper protective equipment than I would a cape."

St.John hopes by sharing his mother's story he can save another family from the pain he is going through now.

He's reminding people to curtail non-emergent health care visits, stay home, and follow the governor's orders.

"I would caution everyone to please understand the cost of your actions. Maybe you won't get sick but maybe you share it with somebody else. If you couldn't do it for my mom do it for yours," he said. "My mother wanted to care for people and this is chance for her to do exactly that."