Fb – Fb group for COVID-19 victims places ‘a name to the number’

Melissa Staples began a web-based assist group after her mom, Leone Harriman, pictured, died from COVID-19 on April 19. Contributed photograph

Melissa Staples misplaced her mom, Leone Harriman, to COVID-19 in late April.

On the time, Harriman was the 35th Mainer to succumb to the illness brought on by the coronavirus, and that quantity caught out to Staples when she heard it learn in the course of the state’s media briefing.

“It got me thinking that my mom was more than just a number, she has a name,” she stated. “From there, the group took off.”

Staples created a Fb assist group known as “Remembering Maine’s COVID-19 — Each quantity has a reputation,” the place members are invited to put up pictures of relations or mates that they’ve misplaced to the illness. Some share a number of recollections, or information tales of others misplaced in Maine.

A latest put up was made in honor of Tom Keene, the previous Skowhegan hearth chief, who died Monday from COVID-19.

Harriman, of Northport, had lately entered the Tall Pines rehabilitation middle in Belfast, and in response to Staples, was only a few days away from being launched when she examined constructive for COVID-19. She confirmed no signs for a number of days, however then it “came on fierce,” Staples stated.

The Fb group was created April 20, simply sooner or later after Harriman’s demise. It now has greater than 2,500 members.

Staples, who lives in Frankfort in Waldo County, is doing all she will to develop the group, particularly as extra Mainers are dying, and others would possibly discover solace within the assist. She reached out to the Solar Journal after she noticed information stories on deaths related to the outbreak at Russell Park in Lewiston.

“We’re just finding a lot of comfort from it,” she stated. “The holidays are the worst. It’s a sensitive topic, but it’s one that is very important to people.”

As of Wednesday, Maine had reported 190 deaths on account of COVID-19. To this point in November, 43 individuals have died with COVID-19 in Maine, the second most of any month behind April.

In a latest put up on the web page, Staples expressed disbelief at how many individuals are becoming a member of it.

“As everyone knows, I started this group in memory of my late mother back in April 2020. Never did I imagine it would have grown to this big of a group,” she stated. “I have found such comfort by sharing our family’s story with all of Maine and beyond and I know other families from Maine have too.”

She stated a number of fellow Mainers are shedding relations who don’t stay within the state, and she or he’s invited them to share their tales as properly.

“Behind every number that has passed is a Mom, Dad, Grandmother, Grandfather, Sister, Brother, Uncle, Aunt, Cousin and friend,” the web page description reads.

Staples additionally based a scholarship fund in her mom’s title and can award two scholarships to college students within the Northport space early subsequent month.

To go to the web page, go to: www.fb.com/teams/1305370532984990, or click on right here.

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