Alexa Rose Veit, a teenage girl with Down’s syndrome, beats cancer. But COVID killed her.

A 15-year-old girl with Down’s syndrome from Kentucky survived a battle with leukemia last year. But the brave “social butterfly” couldn’t beat COVID-19 – she died from the virus earlier this week, according to Ballard County Emergency Management. Alexa Rose Veit was diagnosed after feeling ill at school on October 26; her mother and grandparents were also infected and were also hospitalized. “Alex’s health continued to decline and was eventually placed on a ventilator to help her breathe. It was then determined that the doctors had done all they could for Alexa, and it was decided that they had to bring her mother to Nashville, ”agency director Travis Holder wrote in a Facebook message. “On Saturday the 14th, Alexa’s mother was released from the Paducah hospital and rushed to Nashville to be with Alexa. On Sunday, November 15, 2020, Alexa was called home to be with the Lord.

Holder said he was sharing Alexa’s story in hopes of convincing local residents to take precautions. “I even ask you if you don’t like masks or think they don’t work for wearing one. Wear it out of respect for your fellow Ballard people who cannot take the risk of catching this virus, ”he wrote.