NJ Airport Worker, Mom, Reaffirms Family Bonds Amid Outbreak

NEWARK, NJ — In a way, the coronavirus has only made the relationship between Keivett Francis-Harrison and her two daughters stronger.

Francis-Harrison, an operations services supervisor at Newark Liberty International Airport, has been working on the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis, turning in long shifts at Terminal B and putting herself at risk to make sure things run smoothly at the busy airport.

But out of all the duties Francis-Harrison is charged with, the role she cherishes most is the one of “mom,” she says.

In a recent blog post from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Francis-Harrison said that she’s come to appreciate spending time with her daughters, 23 and 19, even more as the coronavirus crisis unfolds.

“I wouldn’t trade spending these moments with them for anything,” she said.

Keeping her family happy, healthy and safe has become a priority, especially since Francis-Harrison is interacting with the public on a regular basis. It helps that her daughters – one is an IT supervisor and budding actress and the other is attending college – are living with her at home.

“More than before, I’m trying to ensure that our daily diet is well-balanced,” Francis-Harrison said. “We’ve dusted off the treadmill and it is back in use. I’ve also come up with my own homemade, all-natural immune booster.”

“It doesn’t taste good at all, but it has benefits,” she added.

With travelers still avoiding flights in droves due to the virus, working in a mostly-vacant airport is somewhat surreal, Francis-Harrison said. But for now, she’s making sure to keep social distancing and wear her personal protective equipment.

And there’s another crucial piece of equipment she’s making sure to bring to work every day: a smile.

“I can have a positive impact on someone who may not be having the best day, or even having a hard time dealing with the intricacies of being in the airport as empty as it is,” Francis-Harrison said.

READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

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