‘Beloved’ MS Coast ICU nurse who helped COVID-19 patients dies from coronavirus
The staff at Singing River Hospital in Ocean Springs cared for hundreds of people with the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and now they’ve lost one of their own to COVID-19.
CEO Lee Bond confirmed Friday morning that Cheryl Smith-Longfellow, a registered nurse at Ocean Springs Hospital, has died from the coronavirus.
“Cheryl was a beloved member of our Singing River Strong family,” Bond said. “She was a true Health Care Hero in every sense and literally impacted countless lives throughout her long selfless career as an ICU Nurse. No words can describe the pain our family feels today.”
Ironically she didn’t get the coronavirus at the hospital, but outside of work, said Sarah Duffey, media relations director for SRHS.
When Longfellow died Thursday night, her family was with her at a safe distance and a line of nurses stretched down the hallway, Duffey said
“She’s just a really good person,” Duffey said.
Her Facebook page shows Longfellow turned 60 in May and has three children and nine grandchildren. She moved from Indiana to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2007.
A GoFundMe account was established to cover some of the expenses, and her co-workers and the community are responding. The organizer posted Thursday that almost $3,000 dollars was donated in less than 24 hours.
“That’s amazing and I know her family is so appreciative of all your donations,” posted Rhyannen Majo-Smith, the organizer of the account.
“It is still a tough fight,” Bond posted on the SRHS website Tuesday. “Even though the numbers have gone down, it is still challenging to stay positive every day given the fact that this virus has not left us, and knowing that we might have a wave in a few weeks.”
This story was originally published September 11, 2020 at 10:54 AM.
