Divina Accad, 72, Detroit VA nurse, first coronavirus health care death
Divina Accad, a Veterans Affairs nurse who died of complications from the coronavirus this week, was a hero who spent her career looking after sick veterans in Detroit.
Mark Accad said his mother died on Monday after 11 days in a hospital in Taylor. Her death was the first known fatality from the coronavirus among health-care workers in the Detroit area.
"My mom was a hero," Mark Accad told Detroit Free Press on Friday. "What she did was very heroic."
Accad, who went by the first name of Debbie, was 72 and had told her son last month that she was contemplating retiring from the John D. Dingell medical center. She fell ill on March 20 and was hospitalized with pneumonia.
- The latest: Michigan coronavirus map, locations, updated COVID-19 news
- What Michigan’s coronavirus school closure means for you
- What Michigan’s coronavirus stay-at-home order means for residents
- What jobs are exempt from Michigan coronavirus lockdown? You may be surprised.
Mark Accad was able to see his mother twice in the hospital, but was not allowed to see her a third time.
"The last time I saw her was at the morgue," he said.
Stories from the front
Bridge Magazine and the Detroit Free Press are teaming up to report on Michigan hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. We will be sharing accounts of the challenges doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel face as they work to treat patients and save lives.
If you work in a Michigan hospital, we would love to hear from you. You can contact Robin Erb rerb@bridgemi.com at Bridge or Kristen Jordan Shamus kshamus@freepress.com at the Free Press.
She is survived by her husband, William Accad; two other sons, Willie Jr. and Reagan; a daughter, Lovelet, and five grandchildren.
Mark Accad said he was using her death to raise awareness of the risks health-care workers face during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Please be considerate of other people," he said, they could be health-care workers.
"She sacrificed her life for our troops,. I want my mom to be known for what she did.
"She was truly 'divine.' "
Contact Jennifer Dixon: 313-223-4410 or jbdixon@freepress.com
RESOURCES:
- Michigan families can get food, cash, internet during coronavirus crisis
- How to give blood in Michigan during the coronavirus crisis
- 10 ways you can help Michigan hospital workers right now
- Michigan coronavirus Q&A: Reader questions answered
- How to apply for Michigan unemployment benefits amid coronavirus crisis
- How to get tested for coronavirus in Michigan
See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:
- “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
- “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
- “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.
If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today. You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time!