LONG BEACH, Calif. – There’s a family of six in Long Beach. Five of the family members live in one condominium together. Three of these five were diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19.

The family’s eldest son became the caretaker and he filmed the experience.

What You Need To Know


  • Three members of family of six hospitalized with COVID-19

  • Eldest son helped them recover and documented experience

  • He protected his youngest brother from catching the virus

  • Now sharing experience to promote awareness among other Samoan families

“I literally felt like I was a nurse trying to make sure my patients were being checked on, trying to make sure they have food and stuff like that,” said Pele Ili.

Ili’s mom’s case was the most severe. She was in the hospital the longest. Ili also took one of his brothers and his father to the hospital due to the coronavirus.

Despite working from home full-time, Ili worked hard to ensure his youngest brother never showed any symptoms.

Now his family is back home and almost fully recovered. Making public what could be his family’s lowest point wasn’t easy.

“It’s important to document this because not a lot of Samoan families like mine will take this seriously if they don’t hear somebody talking about it,” said Ili.