
WURD Radio is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on economic mobility. Read more at brokeinphilly.org or follow at @brokeinphilly.
By Eugene Sonn | Resolve Philly
Month after month, we hear report after report about how one of the more painful parts of losing a loved one to COVID is not having the chance to truly say goodbye.
Sometimes the illness progresses too rapidly to even allow for a remote farewell. In other cases, family and friends of those who’ve fallen ill are able to Facetime, Zoom, or talk over the phone to let them know how much they are loved and how much they will be missed. But it’s not the same — not by a longshot. Those who have lost someone to this pandemic, in most cases, never had a chance for that final hug with their parent, child, sibling or friend. And, along with that, the opportunity to say goodbye face to face.
We know that nothing can make up for that. But we also believe that keeping those final thoughts and sentiments bottled up can be an additional hardship. So we are offering anyone who couldn’t have that in-person goodbye a chance to share what you would have said if you’d had been able to be by their side.
We call this effort: “With Love: Messages to those lost to COVID.”
COVID has taken more than 430,000 people in the U.S. from us — nearly 3,000 in Philadelphia alone. What would you have said to them? Would you have told them that they made you feel important? That you’ll now cherish that lucky jersey they wore whenever they watched the Phillies? Or that Thanksgiving wasn’t the same without their signature dish?
If you’ve lost someone to COVID and want to express your goodbye, we’re here to help. You can write something on your own or record yourself and send in the video or audio file. If you’d like to participate but find it hard to do so on your own, we’ll have a reporter from one of our Broke in Philly newsroom partners reach out to have a conversation with you to get those words and thoughts flowing. Or, express yourself in a different way. Art, dance, song, you name it.
We’ll be setting up a site to publish these pieces starting March 10, marking one year since the first COVID case was diagnosed in Philadelphia. We’ll continue gathering goodbyes from there.
If you are fortunate enough to have not lost a loved one to COVID, please consider sending this on to someone who did. We have a page here that explains in detail what we are trying to do. And anyone interested in participating can fill out this form to sign up.
These messages will be addressed to the loved ones we have lost, but will also help our community remember all the strong, loving and unique people who make Philly great.
Originally published at brokeinphilly.org
Commentary
Did you miss a chance to say goodbye because of COVID?
todayFebruary 3, 2021
WURD Radio is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on economic mobility. Read more at brokeinphilly.org or follow at @brokeinphilly.
By Eugene Sonn | Resolve Philly
Month after month, we hear report after report about how one of the more painful parts of losing a loved one to COVID is not having the chance to truly say goodbye.
Sometimes the illness progresses too rapidly to even allow for a remote farewell. In other cases, family and friends of those who’ve fallen ill are able to Facetime, Zoom, or talk over the phone to let them know how much they are loved and how much they will be missed. But it’s not the same — not by a longshot. Those who have lost someone to this pandemic, in most cases, never had a chance for that final hug with their parent, child, sibling or friend. And, along with that, the opportunity to say goodbye face to face.
We know that nothing can make up for that. But we also believe that keeping those final thoughts and sentiments bottled up can be an additional hardship. So we are offering anyone who couldn’t have that in-person goodbye a chance to share what you would have said if you’d had been able to be by their side.
We call this effort: “With Love: Messages to those lost to COVID.”
COVID has taken more than 430,000 people in the U.S. from us — nearly 3,000 in Philadelphia alone. What would you have said to them? Would you have told them that they made you feel important? That you’ll now cherish that lucky jersey they wore whenever they watched the Phillies? Or that Thanksgiving wasn’t the same without their signature dish?
If you’ve lost someone to COVID and want to express your goodbye, we’re here to help. You can write something on your own or record yourself and send in the video or audio file. If you’d like to participate but find it hard to do so on your own, we’ll have a reporter from one of our Broke in Philly newsroom partners reach out to have a conversation with you to get those words and thoughts flowing. Or, express yourself in a different way. Art, dance, song, you name it.
We’ll be setting up a site to publish these pieces starting March 10, marking one year since the first COVID case was diagnosed in Philadelphia. We’ll continue gathering goodbyes from there.
If you are fortunate enough to have not lost a loved one to COVID, please consider sending this on to someone who did. We have a page here that explains in detail what we are trying to do. And anyone interested in participating can fill out this form to sign up.
These messages will be addressed to the loved ones we have lost, but will also help our community remember all the strong, loving and unique people who make Philly great.
Originally published at brokeinphilly.org
THE WURD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Black Talk Media sent straight to your inbox.
BECOME A MEMBER
The forWURD Movement is your way to
protect and preserve Independent Black Media.
CLICK TO JOIN OR RENEW
Written by: wurdradio21stg
Broke In Philly covid Eugene Sonn Resolve Philly With Love: Messages to those lost to COVID
Similar posts
Commentary
Opinion: No Family Should Go Hungry—Fund the Food Banks
todayApril 23, 2025 9
Commentary
We Need a Jackie Robinson Department of Merit
todayApril 1, 2025
Post comments (0)
Featured post
Commentary
‘Reality check’ on health: A farewell from Charles Ellison
todayApril 6, 2023 3 206 4
Latest posts
Teens Cultivate Soil and Safety at Sankofa Community Farm
This week on WURD: Musiq Souldchild shares his journey, PA’s budget delays, Sherri Shepherd’s latest role
This week on WURD: Philly teachers on strike, SEPTA’s funding issues, Sankofa through farming
This week on WURD: I.C.E. in Los Angeles, “No Kings Coalition” march, Philly Black business market
This week on WURD: Lemon Hill shooting, first Black Heiress, Trump’s executive order
Current show
Soulful Sunrise
6:00 am - 7:00 am
Upcoming shows
Wake Up With WURD
7:00 am - 10:00 am
Reality Check
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Keepin’ It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Evening WURDs
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Tavis Smiley Show
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm