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"I& #39;m worried, honey. I think I have one of the symptoms. If anything happens to me..... I miss you so much. I& #39;ll talk to you hopefully later."
-Howard Conyack, 81, crying on a voicemail to his daughter as #COVID19 claimed life after life at his vets home. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/10/07/nj-veterans-home-covid-left-marine-terrified-last-days/5858020002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
-Howard Conyack, 81, crying on a voicemail to his daughter as #COVID19 claimed life after life at his vets home. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/10/07/nj-veterans-home-covid-left-marine-terrified-last-days/5858020002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
Howard was never officially listed among the 62 COVID-19 victims even though he died of respiratory failure during the pandemic.
So we asked how many "probable cases" were at the home. @LindyWa and I were shocked when officials got back to us last week: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/10/01/nj-begins-probe-veterans-homes-where-190-died-covid-19/5872331002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
So we asked how many "probable cases" were at the home. @LindyWa and I were shocked when officials got back to us last week: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/10/01/nj-begins-probe-veterans-homes-where-190-died-covid-19/5872331002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
My colleague @LindyWa and I have been covering the tragedy and disaster at New Jersey& #39;s veterans homes at Paramus and Menlo Park for almost six months.
Why were these homes hit so hard?
We asked for & received a trove of documents.
Here& #39;s what they show: https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2020/08/06/new-details-reveal-how-paramus-veterans-home-became-worst-of-worst-during-pandemic/42255691/">https://www.njherald.com/story/new...
Why were these homes hit so hard?
We asked for & received a trove of documents.
Here& #39;s what they show: https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2020/08/06/new-details-reveal-how-paramus-veterans-home-became-worst-of-worst-during-pandemic/42255691/">https://www.njherald.com/story/new...
Unfortunately, Howard& #39;s story is not unusual.
We& #39;ve documented the final days of many veterans in these homes.
This is Tom Mastropietro. His ID was mixed up w/ another resident. Nurses told his family he was recovering. Tom had been dead for hours. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/04/17/nj-family-told-dad-paramus-home-recovering-he-already-dead/5138281002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
We& #39;ve documented the final days of many veterans in these homes.
This is Tom Mastropietro. His ID was mixed up w/ another resident. Nurses told his family he was recovering. Tom had been dead for hours. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/04/17/nj-family-told-dad-paramus-home-recovering-he-already-dead/5138281002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
The guilt these families feel is overwhelming.
This is Vernon Peck, a Vietnam War vet.
His daughter told him she was sorry she couldn& #39;t save him.
It was the last thing she ever said to him as he lay dying from COVID-19. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/04/21/families-coronavirus-victims-speak-out-breakdowns-nj-veterans-homes-paramus-menlo-park-vineland/5153023002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
This is Vernon Peck, a Vietnam War vet.
His daughter told him she was sorry she couldn& #39;t save him.
It was the last thing she ever said to him as he lay dying from COVID-19. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/04/21/families-coronavirus-victims-speak-out-breakdowns-nj-veterans-homes-paramus-menlo-park-vineland/5153023002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
And it wasn& #39;t just the residents.
This is Monemise Romelus, 61, a nurses& #39; aide at Menlo Park.
Her son said she wasn& #39;t provided the mask, face shield, gloves and gowns to treat patients.
Yet she did. And died for it. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/05/14/nj-coronavirus-menlo-park-veterans-home-aid-monemise-romelus-dies/5189750002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
This is Monemise Romelus, 61, a nurses& #39; aide at Menlo Park.
Her son said she wasn& #39;t provided the mask, face shield, gloves and gowns to treat patients.
Yet she did. And died for it. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/05/14/nj-coronavirus-menlo-park-veterans-home-aid-monemise-romelus-dies/5189750002/">https://www.northjersey.com/story/new...
So what does this all add up to?
NJ has had 2 veterans homes that have a combined 190 resident deaths - fully 1/3rd of the population b4 the pandemic.
@GovMurphy has spent months saying there will be a "full accounting."
We don& #39;t know what that means. https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2020/08/25/tale-of-two-states-massachusetts-took-swift-action-on-veterans-home-disaster-while-nj-dithers/113538604/">https://www.njherald.com/story/new...
NJ has had 2 veterans homes that have a combined 190 resident deaths - fully 1/3rd of the population b4 the pandemic.
@GovMurphy has spent months saying there will be a "full accounting."
We don& #39;t know what that means. https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2020/08/25/tale-of-two-states-massachusetts-took-swift-action-on-veterans-home-disaster-while-nj-dithers/113538604/">https://www.njherald.com/story/new...
