Leilani Jordan Courtesy Zenobia Shepherd

A 27-year-old Maryland grocery store clerk with cerebral palsy died of the coronavirus in her mother’s arms.

“I was able to hold my baby's hands for the last time … It was my baby. It’s like a hole in my heart, like a hole in my heart because all she wanted to do was just help people. She just wanted to help,” Leilani Jordan’s mother, Zenobia Shepherd, said.

Her mother said Leilani helped older people load groceries into their carts and into cars, but she wasn’t given any masks or hand sanitizer.

“Management, leadership needed to kick in and help make sure those that are vulnerable, seniors, other people, have the help and assistance that they need so they're not put into situations to where they can lose their lives. You can't see Covid virus. You can't see Covid-19. You don't know where it's at. You don't know when it's going to hit,” Shepherd said.

“We got to take this serious. It is no time to cut back on the supplies and the resources. We need more to help. Grocery stores are where everybody goes,” she added.

Once Leilani was admitted to the hospital, her mother said the drug hydroxychloroquine was administered to her, but it didn’t help.

Leilani’s stepfather said that before she died, she recorded a video on her phone saying goodbye to her family and friends. They found it once they got back from the hospital.

Her mother said Leilani was selfless, never judged anyone and was nicknamed “Butterfly.” “I’ll always miss my baby. Forever. Forever. Forever,” Shepherd said.