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Cancer survivor is first local health care worker to die from COVID-19

Rose Liberto, who was a cancer survivor, is the first health care worker in our area to die from COVID-19. She was 64.

Her daughter, Shannon Liberto, said her mother never quit the battle against cancer, so she wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines as a nurse amid this pandemic.

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“She was my best friend,” Shannon said. “She was the person I could count on, and it hurts. I’m not ready for her to be gone.”

Rather than hundreds of people who would’ve attended Rose’s funeral, only 10 could say their goodbyes because of the virus and social restrictions.

“I know she might not be here physically, but she will always be with me, and I want to make her proud,” Shannon said.

She told Channel 9 that her mother’s passion in life was helping others and she did that by working at Atrium Health.

“She was with patients until the very end and there were times when I knew, probably as a nurse, she was having her bad days and struggle, but she was not the type to let you see that,” Shannon said.

Rose worked through the pandemic, even though she was at high risk. Her family begged her to sit this one out.

”She was, like, ‘I’m going to fight this no matter what. I’m going to do this,’ and it was kind of, like, ‘You can’t,’” Shannon said. “‘Stop me. I’m going to do this anyway,’” Rose told her daughter.

Rose became ill on April 15 and was diagnosed with COVID-19. It’s not clear where she contracted it. Three weeks later, she lost her battle.

“I don’t want anybody to grieve and go through that heartbreak,” Shannon said.

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She is frustrated by protesters calling for the economy to reopen. She doesn’t believe they are taking this virus seriously and hopes her family’s pain will send them a message.

“I want them to take a minute and think about, ‘Is your family worth it? Is your family worth risking you not wearing a mask, over not washing your hands? And are you really ready to risk losing a family member?'” Shannon said.

['Freedom or death’: Protesters rally in Raleigh demanding to reopen the state]

Shannon also got the virus, but has not shown symptoms in two weeks. She still wears a mask everywhere and encourages everyone to do the same.