Nearly five years after emigrating from Nigeria, Ijeoma Afuke was within reach of realizing two major goals. The certified nursing assistant was studying to become a nurse in the United States. She also had completed the requirements to become a United States citizen and had an important interview in April that was postponed due to the emergence of the coronavirus. Before she could reschedule it, the 35-year-old Chicago woman became another casualty working on the pandemic's front line in the health care sector.
Her husband said he believes Ijeoma contracted the virus while working for MADO Healthcare in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Afuke said his wife had complained about a lack of personal protective equipment at work. He urged her to take a break last month after she came down with cold-like symptoms, but she brushed it off and continued to work. He said she soon became too weak to walk up the stairs of their South Shore apartment.
"I lost my angel," he said. "She was a great mother, a great wife and an extraordinary human being. My wife is my superstar."
Nearly five years after emigrating from Nigeria, Ijeoma Afuke was within reach of realizing two major goals. The certified nursing assistant was studying to become a nurse in the United States. She also had completed the requirements to become a United States citizen and had an important interview in April that was postponed due to the emergence of the coronavirus. Before she could reschedule it, the 35-year-old Chicago woman became another casualty working on the pandemic's front line in the health care sector.
Her husband said he believes Ijeoma contracted the virus while working for MADO Healthcare in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Afuke said his wife had complained about a lack of personal protective equipment at work. He urged her to take a break last month after she came down with cold-like symptoms, but she brushed it off and continued to work. He said she soon became too weak to walk up the stairs of their South Shore apartment.
"I lost my angel," he said. "She was a great mother, a great wife and an extraordinary human being. My wife is my superstar."
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