This obituary is a part of a collection about individuals who have died within the coronavirus pandemic. Examine others here.
Helen Etuk dreamed of changing into a pediatrician. A senior in school, she cherished youngsters and deliberate to dedicate herself to giving them wholesome lives.
And since she was raised by a single mom, Ms. Etuk was decided that when she grew to become a health care provider, she would handle youngsters even when their moms couldn’t afford to pay.
However she by no means obtained that far. She died from problems of the coronavirus on Jan. 12 at a hospital in Arlington, Texas, the place her household lives, her mom, Ellen Clinton, stated in a phone interview. Ms. Clinton stated that her daughter additionally had lupus, a power illness of the immune system, and had been in some discomfort from ache in her joints. She was 20.
Ms. Etuk was finding out on the College of North Texas in Denton. Her mom stated she had been going to in-person lessons, and although she wore a masks and tried to take care of social distance from different folks, she developed a nasty cough that turned out to a symptom of Covid-19.
“She blamed herself, saying she made a mistake in going again to highschool,” Ms. Clinton stated. “She stated that generally college students pull their masks down, so that they cowl their mouths however not their noses.”
Her daughter was hospitalized for nearly three months earlier than she died.
Helen Otobong Etuk was born on Feb. 22, 2000, in Dallas. Her mom works as a well being care guide. Her father, Bassey Etuk, an Military veteran, was not concerned in elevating her.
Along with her mom, Ms. Etuk is survived by three older brothers, Jeffrey, Jeremy and Joseph Ayisire, and an older sister, Linda Ayisire.
Ms. Etuk sang within the church choir, was a part of the colour guard at Lake Ridge Excessive Faculty in Mansfield, Texas, from which she graduated in 2018, and preferred to observe the Historical past and Discovery channels. However largely, she preferred to learn.
“She by no means requested for dolls,” her mom stated. “She at all times requested for books.”
She was most keen on novels. She began devouring all of Harry Potter when she was eight. The Twilight collection was additionally a favourite.
“Once I would go to Walmart, she would say, ‘Can I purchase books?’” her mom stated. “That’s after I knew she was good.”
She paused earlier than including: “She would have accomplished a lot.”
