Westchester mom shares 4-year-old's story to warn of COVID-19 risks to children

Riley's mom says she had to fight like crazy to get him tested because his symptoms didn't match the typical coronavirus patients.

News 12 Staff

Mar 30, 2020, 3:17 PM

Updated 1,500 days ago

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A Westchester mother is sending out a warning that even the youngest among us are vulnerable to the coronavirus. 
Riley, a 4-year-old from New Rochelle, has been stuck inside his home for nearly two weeks after testing positive for the coronavirus. 
He is believed to be one of the youngest patients in New York state to test positive for the virus. 
His mother, Kerry McKenna, turned to Tara Rosenblum in a videoconference call to warn other parents.
"I want other moms to know what to look out for so they weren't dismissed like me," she says.
McKenna says Riley's fever first spiked to 102 in mid-March, which was followed by a fit of vomiting and then difficulties breathing.

"When I called the hospital, the pediatrician they said he is fine. Children have not been testing positive," she says.

McKenna said she knew it was not like other illnesses and was concerned so she called the state testing hotline. The hotline agreed Riley should be tested, but five days later, she was still without an appointment.
She says she took a shot and drove to the Glen Island drive-through testing site and got him tested. 
Four days later, she found out he tested positive. She's now on a mission to spread awareness.
"I feel like people are not taking this as seriously as they should and until it happens to them, it's everybody else," she says. "I'm here to say it can happen to you and you need to be vigilant."

Riley is currently improving each day.
CORONAVIRUS TRACKER - Cases in the tri-state area
CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION: What you can do to protect yourself
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