VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - It's an unforgettable image.
Ocean Lakes High School alumnus Derrick Nnadi, after winning his first Super Bowl title last season, doing a confetti angel on the field in Miami Gardens, Florida. This year, another family member is displaying their wings.
"I really have my highest respect for my Mom," Nnadi, the Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman, explained to News 3 Sports Director Adam Winkler in advance of Sunday's Super Bowl LV. "She's a guardian angel in my eyes."
Christy Nnadi, Derrick's mom, is a nurse in Virginia Beach. Since last March, she's been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
"Hard work, dedication, long nights and early mornings - she's so committed," explained Ashley-Nicole Nnadi, Derrick's sister and Christy's daughter. "She never shows any weakness or any sadness. She just does her job."
"I pray to God every day that it'll get better," Christy admitted. "I do what I do every day, because this is the job I chose. I'm not going to shy away because of the pandemic."
But she is going to get away.
"I told them I need this day and this day and this day off - no questions asked," Christy said about her plans to take time off Super Bowl weekend.
So, thanks to some rare and well-deserved days away from work, Christy will be at Sunday's Super Bowl. And while doing so, she'll share a stadium with 7,000+ other health care heroes.
"My mom is doing everything in her power to help everybody in the area," Derrick explained of Christy's efforts.
And Sunday, Christy Nnadi's guardian angel wings carry her to Tampa - where she might just see another set of wings celebrating in confetti again.
