A disabled supermarket worker who was dedicated to helping elderly and vulnerable customers has died of coronavirus aged just 27.
Leilani Jordan was killed by Covid-19 on March 16, with her grieving mother Zenobia Shepherd saying Leilani, who had cerebral palsy, insisted in working at Giant Food in Largo, Maryland, right up until she fell ill.
Shepherd now believes it was her daughter’s professional dedication that killed her. Recalling what Leilani told her as panic-buying escalated at her store, Shepherd said: ‘It’s just crazy here at work … but somebody’s got to do it. I’ve got to help the older people.’
The grieving mom added: ‘She was doing everything for them: Helping them put their groceries in their walkers, to helping them get into lifts. She thought that there was a need to be there to support our senior community and people with disabilities.
When she coded in the hospital, she coded in my arms. When she flatlined, she flatlined in my arms. Six years (working at the store) and my baby’s gone because of her passion and her love for people.
‘Her love for helping people and would do anything. And do it with the smile.’ Leilani knew her job put her at increased risk of exposure, but was so set on helping people that she went to work anyway.
