Foster mother to 300 children killed by COVID-19: “They’ve already lost their family
A woman who was a foster parent to over 300 children has tragically died following her COVID-19 diagnosis.
Susan Braley devoted decades of her life giving kids a second chance at a happy family, and adopted 7 children along the way.
And now, the hundreds of children taken under Braley’s wing are mourning the beloved mother’s death.
Braley died after contracting COVID-19 and being rushed to hospital with low oxygen.
However, even through her pain, she worried for her family.
During the ride there she told her grandson, Thomas Bartholomew, to make sure the family keep holiday traditions and always make sure to care for and feed anyone in need.
"Right before my grandmother passed, I got to talk to her, you know, when they were wheeling her out, first thing I wanted to tell her was that I love you and thank you for everything you've done in my life," Bartholomew said, via ABC News 4.
"And she said, 'I love you too'."
Sadly, Braley's husband was later admitted to hospital as well. Braley died soon after her husband arrived at the same hospital as her.
Now he's battling the virus in ICU as the hundreds of children they helped raise are grieving Braley and hoping for her husband's recovery.
"They've already lost their first family, this is their second family and we have kids who are older who understand that," said Bartholomew.
"Like Jazmin, who's 18 years old, she lost her mother and now she's lost her second mother. We don't want them to go through that experience."
An online fundraiser has been set up to help raise money to support Braley's family.
In just seven days, it has attracted over $24,000 in donations.