A New Jersey native in her 30s is among the people who have succumbed to the coronavirus.

Alexis Demby was raised in West New York and studied criminal justice at Caldwell University, where she played basketball and also became the team manager.

“She was the type of person when she walked in, her smile just like warmed you up,” says cousin Kenneth Demby.

Alexis was living in Georgia when she became ill. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. Three days later, she tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital sent her home, but she died a few days later.

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“And to know that she didn’t have to pass because they do have people inside of hospitals receiving breathing treatment,” Kenneth says. “They just sent her home to die, basically.”

Kenneth says that he called to check up on her and talked to her the day before she died. He says that she was coughing, but tried to be upbeat.

“But I could tell she wasn’t doing good. I spoke to her that morning. About 1 p.m. I found a picture of her when she was like 3 and I was holding her. I sent it to her and she never answered,” Kenneth says.

The next day when she wasn’t responding police came to check on her. They found her dead around 2 a.m., according to Kenneth.

Kenneth says that he wonders if he could have done more to help her. He says that he wanted to share her story so that others know how serious the illness can get.