VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - As COVID-19 spreads across the United States, medical experts have learned that people with pre-existing health conditions are especially vulnerable.
That's why Layla Beecham's family has been on high alert for the past month.
The now-4-year-old lives with cystic fibrosis, so heeding to social distancing guidelines is particularly important.
"[Her father does that majority of the shopping so] it's that anxiety of, 'What if he missed something [after the groceries were cleaned? What if the groceries had something on them?' It's just a scary time for everybody," Layla's mom, Erin, says.
However, instead of focusing on fear, this family is focusing on fun - especially because Layla just celebrated a birthday.
"We were just told to be outside at 5 p.m. and then after that we were having a party, so we were all kind of surprised," Erin says.
In a procession of positivity, aunts, uncles, cousins and even strangers rode down Layla's street, sending her birthday love from a distance.
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They had balloons, held signs and even handed over a few presents in the driveway. A sweet treat for a little girl celebrating a milestone.
"There's a lot of bad stuff going on right now, but having that ability is really a blessing right now," says Layla's father, Colby.
