Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

A Family Created A Plastic Shield So They Could Hug Each Other After Their Uncle Died Of COVID

A Family Created A Plastic Shield So They Could Hug Each Other After Their Uncle Died Of COVID

Nichole Thompson captured a gut-wrenching moment between her dad and aunt. " I honestly can’t even watch it again myself because it makes me so emotional," she said of her viral TikTok.

Nichole Thompson, 24, from Michigan and her family "took the news very hard" when they were told her uncle, Tommy, died last Friday from COVID-19.

Nichole told BuzzFeed News her uncle had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it was complications from the virus that ultimately killed him.

"He was too weak to fight it," she said. "Our family took the news very hard. He was, and is, very important to us all."

The Thompson family was stricken with grief, but because Nichole's aunts and uncles had been in contact with Tommy, they were advised not to have any physical contact themselves.

"My family is very close — we hug when we see each other and we hug when we leave — so not being able to grieve together wasn’t an option," she added.

Nichole's dad then had the idea to build a large plastic barrier so their extended family could embrace and comfort each other as they were mourning. She recorded and shared this heart-wrenching moment her dad was finally able to hug her aunt, which has gone viral on TikTok.

"Does that feel good or what?" her dad is heard saying in the video in between sobs. "It was so worth it."

"I shared it because I thought it was such a beautiful moment. I honestly can’t even watch it again myself because it makes me so emotional," said Nichole.

The moment has become symbolic of the painful toll the pandemic has taken on people this year. "What an evil time we are living in," one commenter wrote.

"When I say this BROKE me," someone else added.

Nichole said her uncle Tommy was "one of a kind."

"His jokes were corny but they never got old," she said. "We will miss his smiles and hugs very much."

For Nichole and her family, the experience has made the pandemic more than sobering. She hopes her TikTok can serve as another reminder "to think about the people around you" when it comes to making everyday decisions about who you could potentially be exposing to the disease.

"It’s hard to understand what is truly going on until you start to lose the people close to you," she said. "It really made it feel real. Take the necessary precautions not only for yourself but for your loved ones."

"These are tough times and now is not the time to be selfish."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×