Mother dies from COVID-19 after giving birth, never getting to meet her son
TAKOMA PARK, Md. (WJLA) -- It's an example of the very real pain facing families who lose loved ones to COVID-19. A pregnant Maryland woman contracted the virus not long before her due date. She was admitted to the hospital and gave birth to a baby boy about three weeks ago.
But because of the virus, Wogene Debele never got the chance to see or spend time with her son. Then this week, she lost her battle with COVID-19.
"We learned about it last night and it is really shock and a great tragedy to us all," said Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart. "This is a family that everyone in our community knew."
Debele leaves behind her husband and three other children, in addition to the newborn baby. Stewart said the baby is now at home with his father and siblings.
"People keep asking me what they can do. I've been getting phone calls and emails all day long and they're like, what can we do? Can we get something for the baby? Do they need food?" said Stewart. "This is a community that wants to come together."
So, the Takoma Park community is doing just that: coming together as best as they can during a global pandemic.
Friends of the family started a GoFundMe Page in support of Debele's husband and children. More than $130,000 has been donated in less than 24 hours.
The GoFundMe Page shares details of the family's overwhelming loss:
Wogene was kind, joyful, and a source of strength to her family and to all who knew her. She leaves behind her husband Yilma Asfaw Tadesse, and her beloved children Mihret (17 years old), Naod (10 years old), Asher (4 years old), and the newborn Levi, whom she did not even have the chance to see. Wogene's family needs our support now more than ever. Your generous donations will help her husband in his role as a single parent.
"The thing that is really amazing, is if you look at the number of people who have donated," said Stewart. "So there are donations of $5, $10, upwards of a few hundred dollars. It just shows that we need to be in this together and support each other."
As of Wednesday evening, more than 2,000 people had contributed.
"My heart is broken for the mother who gave birth and passed away and for the family who is left behind," said Tebabu Assefa. "And for what that symbolizes on the greater scale."
Assefa first met Wogene Debele back in June, when he invited her 17-year-old daughter to be a youth speaker at an immigration solidarity rally in a nearby county.
"She was delighted," he said. "And she was very grateful. And every time I ran into Wogene after that, she always gave me a profound smile."
Assefa said the Debele family has now asked him to share a message on their behalf.
"The family is crushed," he said, after speaking to Debele's daughter on Wednesday. "She asked me on behalf of the Debele family, to express their deepest and most profound gratitude for the amount of support the community is giving."
Assefa also spoke about how the coronavirus will impact the way in which the family grieves.
"In the Ethiopian culture, people mourn for three, four, five weeks. And friends and family from near and far would come and live with you for several weeks and cook and pray and mourn with you. And they'll be denied that," he said. "That in itself is another issue. They can't do that right now."
That's why Assefa is now working with the City of Takoma Park to plan a virtual candlelight vigil for Debele and her family.
"To show them the love and support that they need," he said. "I mean, on so many levels this thing is heartbreaking."
On Wednesday night, the city began its virtual council meeting with a moment of silence in Debele's honor.
"She meant so much to our community and our broader city," said Mayor Stewart. "She meant a great deal, and it is a tragic loss for all of us."
Stewart said Debele's daughter currently serves on the Takoma Park Youth Council.
"Thank you for everyone who has already shown their support, and let's extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends," said Stewart.