5-Year-Old Daughter Of Michigan First Responders Becomes Youngest In State To Die Of Coronavirus

A daughter of two first responders in Detroit has died after contracting the coronavirus.

5-year-old Skylar Herbert passed away on Sunday, and is believed to be the youngest person in Michigan to have died after testing positive for COVID-19.

Her parents LaVondria Herbert and Ebbie Herbert described their daughter to NBC News as being bubbly, feisty, and a lover of dance. She had dreams of being a pediatric dentist and never let fear stop her from trying something new.

LaVondria, a police officer, says she was shocked by her daughter’s diagnosis because she had not left their home in days. Her symptoms first seemed to be indicative of strep throat, and the thought of the coronavirus did not cross their minds. Neither Mrs. Herbert nor her husband have tested positive.

Ebbie, a firefighter, shared with the outlet:

“This is something that has gotten out of hand, and we need to do something about it, and that’s the reason why we’re doing this interview. To let people know that it doesn’t matter what age you are, it’s coming for you.”

LaVondria shared:

“She was being herself — eating, drinking, playing for, like, the first couple of days. But on that fourth day, she started complaining about the headache. And the fever — I just couldn’t break the fever.”

Her oxygen levels were fine, and she had no signs of respiratory distress. Soon after, she was diagnosed with a rare form of meningitis due to COVID-19 complications. On April 3, she was placed on a ventilator as a precaution:

“So even the doctors were baffled, but they really reached out and tried to find something to do to help her.”

Ebbie added:

“You have doctors out here trying and nurses out here trying. And they get attached. They were crying, too. It’s hard on everybody.”

Local and state governments have received backlash from both sides, some saying the advisories and restrictions are not tough enough, while others say there should not be any. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan has received backlash from conservatives, but the Herbert family says they are grateful to her for doing her best. Ebbie shared:

“When you’re dealing with a virus like this, we’re learning, and even now. It doesn’t care what color you are. It doesn’t care about your nationality. It doesn’t care about your political preference. It’s just a monster that is trying to destroy whatever is in its way.”

The grieving father says the pain is something he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy, and even seeing his daughter’s toothbrush is painful. LaVondria can’t pinpoint one thing she misses most about her partner in crime, but shared: