Valley mom of six dies of COVID-19, leaving her oldest to care for her siblings

PHOENIX — Gone at solely 46-years-old. A Valley mom leaves her six youngsters behind, after shedding her battle with COVID-19. And instantly, Vanessa Perez, solely 25, shedding her mother and turning into the one who will now elevate her siblings.

“I’m being robust for all my siblings,” Perez stated. “However I’m actually grateful and I at all times inform them that I’m completely satisfied there’s so many people. God bless as a result of, we’re what’s serving to one another transfer ahead.”

Vanessa says her mother, Mayra Millan, was a necessary employee at an area grocery retailer. She cared for her household till COVID-19 took her life earlier this month.

“They’d inform us she was getting higher and we’d get our hopes up excessive,” Perez stated. “After which the following day the identical lung that had collapsed, re-collapsed.”

The virus turning into an excessive amount of for Mayra, Vanessa who additionally obtained sick with COVID, answering the hospital’s name on December 14th.

“Instantly what got here to my thoughts was my siblings,” she stated. “I’ve at all times been like their second mother and I simply didn’t need them to really feel any ache.”

Caring for them by the grief, Vanessa says she plans to undertake her minor siblings.

“I’m the oldest so I’m going to be the only real supplier as a result of my different brother who simply graduated continues to be on the lookout for a job, so I actually hope he finds one quickly,” Perez stated.

The neighborhood additionally donating 1000’s to assist this household get again on its ft, by this GoFundMe. Vanessa, now unexpectedly plunging into parenthood shares a warning for Arizonans.

“Be secure. Take it severe,” she stated. “As a result of one life adjustments the lifetime of everybody. Which it’s going to do for us.”