The Hardest Parts
Deaths of loved ones. Not being able to see your family and close friends. Spending Christmas alone in your room because you have COVID. These are just some examples of the countless ‘Hardest Parts’ of the pandemic that our children shared.
Connor, 8, New York, USA
Connor was used to big challenges, even before the pandemic began. At 3 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. He also lost several loved ones at a young age.
Here he talks about the deaths of his babysitter and uncle from COVID and what it’s like going through cancer treatment during a pandemic.
What you’ll see is a kid who is impossibly bright, both in intelligence and in attitude.
Recorded: August 18, 2021
Deaths of Babysitter and Uncle
Cancer Treatment During Pandemic
Daelynn, 9, New Mexico, USA
Like Connor, Daelynn experienced multiple challenges during the pandemic. Her ‘Hardest Parts’ were not being able to see her niece, whom she used to see at school every day, and not being able to see her brother, who is in a special needs facility, due to school closures.
Recorded: November 4, 2021
Missing Family
Daelynn was also coping with her Mom’s cancer treatment at that time, making a support system all the more critical. Here she speaks about all those losses and what helps her get by.
Mom’s Cancer
Valentina, 11, Canada
Even though Valentina’s Dad lives outside of her native Canada, she used to be able to see him regularly. When the pandemic resulted in travel restrictions, she missed out on seeing him for a year and a half. When she finally was able to travel again to see him, her Dad (and her whole family) caught COVID. He ended up being hospitalized in the ICU for over a week. Here Valentina talks about that experience.
Recorded: September 22, 2021
Dad in ICU for COVID
Kayla, 6, Australia
Kayla has many close family members who live outside her home country of Australia. Many of them live in Italy, a country that was hard hit during the early days of the pandemic. Here she talks about some of her hardest parts about the pandemic.
Recorded: November 27, 2021
Not Seeing Family