Thread.

Imagine you're 17. Your fave person is your mom, a single parent and your #1 advocate, especially when you're bullied for your #autism. Suddenly, she gets sick. You try everything to help her but she worsens. An ambulance comes and takes her away. You never see her again

They say your mom has #covid19. You feel guilty; did you infect her? You have to self-quarantine for 2 weeks; you're also now responsible for your sister, who's 13. You call the hospital every day to check on your mom but one day when you phone, they say: oh, she passed away.

Now you're really alone. There are so many things you don't know: When your dad's getting back from abroad. The relatives you're suddenly living with. Whether you'll go home or back to your school, where you've been making friends and honour roll. How long your grief will last.

This is what life in the pandemic has been like for Leymo Mohammed. COVID has been particularly cruel to families like his; his wonderful mom, Bontu Abdulahi, was a Black woman and immigrant from Ethiopia who lived in public housing and worked as a personal support worker.

I think a lot about the stories and broken lives behind the COVID stats — more than 2,800 deaths now in Ontario. Leymo's story is just one. He's such a remarkable kid and I was lucky to get to know him. Hoping you'll take some time to get to know him, too https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/09/05/this-toronto-teen-lost-his-mom-to-covid-19-now-hes-starting-the-school-year-without-his-fiercest-ally.html