Honoring Our Colleagues Lost to COVID-19: A Salute to VNSNY Partners in Care Home Health Aide Sophia Stewart

The heroism shown by the staff of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York in tremendously challenging times is legendary. From the influenza epidemic of 1918 and the polio outbreaks of the mid-20th century, to the emergence of AIDS in the 1980s and the devastation of the 9/11 attacks and Superstorm Sandy, VNSNY’s courageous women and men have always been there to provide care and comfort to New Yorkers in troubled times, despite the risk to themselves.

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Over the past two months, we have been working tirelessly and with unsurpassed determination under incredibly difficult circumstances so that our patients and plan members can continue to receive the care they need. Many of our colleagues have been stricken with COVID-19 themselves. Thankfully, most of them have recovered and many have even returned to work. Sadly and tragically, however, eight of our coworkers have died. They include six home health aides with Partners in Care, a physical therapist with VNSNY Home Care, and a social worker with VNSNY Hospice.

“These VNSNY heroes dedicated their lives to caring for others, and their contributions will never be forgotten,” says VNSNY President and CEO Marki Flannery. “We will remember them, honor them, and celebrate their lives.”

As part of this remembrance, we will be publishing Frontline tributes to our fallen colleagues over the coming weeks.

Sophia Stewart

Sophia Stewart was a Partners in Care Home Health Aide for almost seven years. For six of those years, she worked with home care clients, and in recent months she provided care to VNSNY Hospice patients.

Natalya Gefter, an HHA Supervisor with Partners in Care, remembers Sophia with gratitude for the support she gave to clients. “Sophia was responsible, professional, and so sweet and polite,” says Natalya. “She was always willing to accept the really hard live-in cases, where aides care for their clients 24 hours a day. She actually offered to take them on.”

Natalya recalls one of her most difficult live-in cases, which unfolded last year in Brooklyn. “The client’s daughter was so particular, with a really big list of requirements, and she was not happy with anyone I sent,” she says. “I was afraid I was going to have to keep sending replacements, and then Sophia walked into the office and agreed to take the case.” Very soon after that, the daughter called Natalya to tell her that Sophia was perfect for her mom.

“These live-in situations aren’t easy, especially when the client lives with another family member,” notes Natalya, “but Sophia had just the right personality for these jobs. She was kind, helpful, and very understanding of both the clients and their families. I appreciated her so much!”

“Sophia was great with everyone, empathetic and compassionate, humble and respectful,” adds HHA Supervisor Princess Bryan-Colley. “She took her training very seriously, and no case was too difficult for her to handle.” Sophia and Princess had both grown up in Jamaica, she says, “and we had gotten especially close. We were both from Kingston. I’m so sad she had to leave us.”

Sophia’s service with VNSNY Hospice patients earlier this year, at time when hospice teams were increasingly shorthanded due to the emerging pandemic, was another example of her readiness to step in where she could be most helpful. “Sophia represented the agency well in this time of need, and I thank her for that,” says HHA Supervisor Jacqueline Beckles, who worked with her during this period.

Sophia lived in Flatbush, Brooklyn, with her family, all of whom were born in Jamaica. When she wasn’t working or with her family, she was pursuing an online college degree at the Mandl School at The College of Allied Health in Manhattan.

“I just have so many memories of her. She was a lot of fun, and enjoyed going to church,” says Errol Stewart, Sophia’s father.

Sophia’s brother, Ryan Stewart, who was closest in age to her, remembers their shared childhood with fondness. “She used to take me home from school in Kingston,” he says. “She would give her last, and do anything for her family. She really liked looking after her clients, as well. She had a very kind heart.”

Sophia is survived by her mother Alcina Edwards, her father Errol, her stepmother Jael Stewart, her sisters Dominique and Theresa, and her brother Ryan.

If you would like to make a donation in Sophia’s memory, please click here to visit her GoFundMe page. If you would like to submit a special story or remembrance about Sophia, please send it using the Contact Us page on Frontline. We will post these responses as they come in.