A Louisiana nurse who lost her husband toCOVID-19is channeling her grief into helping others fight off the virus — and she’s doing it one door at a time.
Carla Brown tells PEOPLE she has wanted to help save the lives of others ever since her husband Daviddied from COVID-19in July 2020.
Seven months from that heartbreaking day, Brown — who currently works as a nurse at Canon Hospice — has embarked on a mission to make it happen.
“[My husband] was the love of my life,” Brown, 62, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “I couldn’t save David. But I can help save others — and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
“The Lord rides on Miss Carla’s shoulders,” adds Hastings, 47, who works as Canon Hospice’s office manager. “We’re both just trying to make a difference in our little section of the world.”
For more on Carla Brown’s mission, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
Carla Brown.Annie Flanagan
Brown says she was working as a nurse at a Baton Rouge psychiatric hospital in May 2020 when she unknowingly contracted COVID-19 and brought it home to her family.
As the pandemic raged out of control, Brown watched helplessly as her 90-year-old father, 67-year-old brother and 67-year-old husband all became infected with COVID-19.
Eventually, all three men ended up in the hospital — but while her dad and brother ultimately recovered and made it home, David died on July 17 after seven weeks on a ventilator.
“It was devastating,” says Brown. “My husband survivedcancertwo times, but not COVID. And because of COVID restrictions, I couldn’t be with him or even hold his hand.”
“After knowing I was the reason he got sick, I wanted to do something to help other people,” she adds. “I wanted to make sure they could get vaccinated.”
For more on Brown and Hastings' vaccine crusade, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
Carla Brown and her late husband David.Courtesy Carla Brown
On any given day or night, Brown and Hastings can be seen hitting the streets after work in Brown’s red Toyota Scion.
“We’re targeting the elderly and those who are underserved,” explains Brown, who also holds events where people can come get the vaccine.
While they’ve generally been successful in their efforts, Brown notes that “we get told no all the time.”
“Especially in the Black community, there is a lot ofmistrust of the medical community,” Brown says.
Carla Brown and Missy Hastings administering the vaccine to Joseph Rodost.Annie Flanagan
“When they see medical professionals who look like them, and we tell them to get the shot, they’re more inclined to listen,” she explains. “We are very persistent. We will stay and talk as long as we can. We’ve had a lot of success in turning people around.”
So far, Brown and Hastings have managed to use each and every vial they’ve been given.
The women also check back with each vaccine recipient to make sure no one’s hadan adverse reaction. (None have, thus far.)
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“The miracle of this is, with the help of the Lord, we have not had to waste one dose,” Brown explains. “There are 10 doses in one vial. Every week, we have someone cancel out, and someone comes in to take that dose. We feel like every dose is an opportunity to save a life.”
“It’s a great feeling to see people get the shot,” she says. “We want to get as many people vaccinated as we can and it’s a great feeling knowing we are part of that.”
source: people.com
