August 24, 2020
Watch: Anderson Cooper Grows Tearful at Heroic Health Worker's Story
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Anderson Cooper grew tearful on the air during the Aug. 21 edition of "Anderson Cooper 360," reports Mediaite.
Cooper had just viewed a report by correspondent Randi Kaye, who interviewed heroic Florida health care worker Rosa Felipe via video about her months-long struggle to survive COVID-19.
Felipe has been in intensive care since March at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida - her own workplace of a decade and a half. If she survives, Felipe, 41, may lose part of all of both hands due to COVID-related blood clots that have impaired her circulation.
Though many people recover from COVID-19 without grave health complications, some suffer from serious - even fatal - side effects. Blood clots are a known complication and can necessitate the amputation of limbs. Such was the case for Broadway actor Nick Cordero, who lost a leg during his three months in the hospital. Cordero eventually died of the disease.
Underlying health conditions such as obesity, asthma, diabetes, heart or kidney disease, or immuno-suppression - as with cancer treatment, for instance - can heighten the risk of grave health consequences from the disease.
Felipe has both diabetes and asthma, Mediaite noted.
Felipe may well have become infected with COVID-19 while on the job, the CNN video report noted. Her condition became so serious that she was put on a ventilator for months. Felipe also prepared a note for her young children to tell them not to be angry with God in case she died.
Felipe was matter of fact while talking with Kaye about the way blood clots ravaged her hands, but she grew emotional while discussing her children and wanting to see them again. The health care corker has been separated from her family for more than five months, noted the report.
But Felipe made a point of offering her congratulations to Cooper for having become a father in June. "I'm happy that he has a baby, and that he's so cute," Felipe told Kaye.
Kaye passed those sentiments along to Cooper. The openly gay news anchor had to pause and wipe away tears.
Watch the CNN news clip below.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
