Thread by @JohnWoodrowCox

As I wrote this story, I heard people claim every day that the virus is a hoax, that’s it’s not as bad as reporters suggest, that it will soon be a memory.

For those people, here is what three children in Michigan have endured since March. (THREAD)
wapo.st/virusorphans

The last time Nadeen saw her mother — her best friend — Nada was being lifted into an ambulance. A day later, Nadeen had to call 911 for her dad, too.
“I’ve been to this address before,” the paramedic told her.
“Yeah,” she replied. “You took my mom.”
wapo.st/virusorphans

Nash — who didn't have a bank account or know what size clothes he wore — was suddenly in charge of caring for his sisters. After losing his mom, his dad wasn't expected to survive Mother's Day.
"Please not today," he prayed. His father died one day later.
wapo.st/virusorphans

After the grass grew up to their knees, Nadeen and Nanssy, 13, took out their dad’s mower for the first time. Before they finished, Nanssy paused. She thought about what they were doing and what it meant.
“So who’s going to take care of me now?” she asked.
wapo.st/virusorphans

The death toll from this virus represents only a fraction of the suffering. What Nash, Nadeen and Nanssy have lost, and endured since, will never be captured in a data set. I hope you'll read their story.
wapo.st/virusorphans

This is the second piece in our series on the impact of the virus on children in America, with photographs by @salwangeorges, design by @jjalcantara and editing by @WPLyndaRobinson — three of my brilliant colleagues.

In case you missed the first story:
washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/…