‘The Other Half of My Soul’: Widows of COVID-19 Bond Over Sudden Loss
By News
Published 3 years ago on
January 4, 2021
Share
[aggregation-styles]
The New York Times Subscription
The New York Times Subscription
CHICAGO — One Friday evening, Sandra McGowan-Watts, a 46-year-old doctor from suburban Chicago, opened her laptop, stifled her nerves and told strangers on a Zoom call what had happened to her husband, Steven.
“He died by himself,” said Dr. McGowan-Watts, who joined the call after an invitation on a Facebook support group for widowed Black women. “Not being able to see him, being able to touch him, all of those things. The grief is kind of complicated.”
The women listening understood instantly. They were all widows of Covid-19.
For nearly two hours that summer night, their stories tumbled out, tales of sickness and death, single parenting and unwanted solitude, harrowing phone calls and truncated goodbyes.
By Julie Bosman | 31 Dec 2020
RELATED TOPICS:
US Announces New Patriot Missiles for Ukraine as Part of New $6 Billion Aid Package
World /
2 hours ago
Andy Reid and Taylor Swift Agree: Fresno’s Xavier Worthy Is a Great 1st-Round Draft Pick
Sports /
3 hours ago
Egypt Sends Delegation to Israel, Its Latest Effort to Broker a Cease-Fire Between Israel and Hamas
World /
3 hours ago
Antony Blinken Meets With China’s President Xi as US, China Spar Over Bilateral and Global Issues
U.S. /
4 hours ago
Key Questions About CA Budget Deficit Unanswered as Deadlines Loom
Opinion /
7 hours ago
Is This Your Next BFF? Meet Girlfriend, a Professionally Trained Adventure Dog!
Animals /
8 hours ago
Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Criminalizing Adults Assisting Minors in Gender-Affirming Care
Politics /
21 hours ago
Latest
Videos
Housing /
2 hours ago
LA Judge Deals a Blow to Law Allowing Duplexes in Single-Family Tracts
World /
2 hours ago
US Announces New Patriot Missiles for Ukraine as Part of New $6 Billion Aid Package
Sports /
3 hours ago
Andy Reid and Taylor Swift Agree: Fresno’s Xavier Worthy Is a Great 1st-Round Draft Pick
World /
3 hours ago