Detroit Reporter Shares Family Losses From Coronavirus, Tweet Goes Viral

By Ken Coleman, Michigan Advance

After writing a social media post about the painful COVID-19-related deaths of her grandmother, aunt and mother, Biba Adams’ story has gone viral.

“I am deeply saddened to share that my mother, Elaine Head passed away on yesterday from complications of COVID-19. My aunt, grandmother, and now my mom were all felled by this vicious disease,” Adams tweeted on Thursday.

The Detroit-based freelance journalist’s tweet has been shared by many reporters, as well as actresses Alyssa Milano and Rosanna Arquette. It has been retweeted more than 7,000 times and liked more than 50,000 times.

Adams, an African-American woman, resides in a state and city that has been reeling from COVID-19. Several families have experienced multiple losses.

Michigan has 38,210 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,407 deaths as of Monday. In Detroit, officials have confirmed 8,679 cases and 950 deaths. African Americans compose roughly 14% of the Michigan population; however, they account for 32% of the state’s cases and 41% of its deaths.

At one point, both her mother, Elaine Head, and grandmother, Minnie Head, were on hospital ventilators at the same time. As Biba was seeing about their care, her aunt died. Her family had to deal with three deaths within 30 days — all COVID-19 related.

Adams also tweeted about President Trump’s actions on COVID-19: “I remain resolute to hold @realDonaldTrump responsible for his administration’s inept response to this crisis which has devastated my family.”

After sharing in a separate Twitter post last week that the last movie that she and mother saw was “The Photograph,” Adams received a direct message from actress Issa Rae, the movie’s co-star.

“She said, Thank you for sharing how the movie affected your family,’” Adams said. “‘You are in my thoughts and prayers. You’ve given me strength to have a conversation with my mom.’”

Adams also received well wishes from the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and the International Women’s Media Foundation gave her “a very generous grant” to help Adams and her family move forward.

“I’ve had an extreme outpouring of love from Detroit,” Adams said. “People have been sending us cash app [gifts] and plants on my porch.”

Asked how she feels after saying goodbye to her mother, Adams said, “I just want to be hugged and held. I wish somebody could hug me, you know?”