Faith, friends and strangers provide support to family of 7 struggling with COVID-19

The Pfarr family of seven from Columbia Heights has been hit hard by COVID-19 in recent weeks.

Mom, Mary Jo is recovering from the coronavirus and now dad, Duane, is on a ventilator in the hospital.

“I’m just trying to keep it all together and not break down,” Mary Jo said. “I have my moments, it’s hard to keep my composure.”

The five children, ages 10-16 years old, have not contracted COVID-19 but remain quarantined at home while they try to focus on keeping up with distance school work.

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Duane, the family said, has had issues with his lungs before, which is why there is some concern as he battles COVID-19 alone at the hospital.

“I dropped him off, I didn’t think about it, didn’t hug him or anything because I didn’t realize or think about how long he’s going to be there and I can’t go see him,” Mary Jo said. “It wasn’t very easy to explain to the kids.”

A family friend set up a GoFundMe page to help the Pfarr’s navigate the financial unknown of COVID-19.

“It’s amazing the support that people have for other people at this time,” said Mary Jo of the friends, church family and strangers who donated or provided other support.

The family’s faith is also helping them through the unknown of what’s next with COVID-19.

“I know it’s out of our hands, with my beliefs, it’s God controlling it,” Mary Jo said.