Letter from the editor
Remember when “mask” was a word we only associated with Halloween? It is approaching one year since our worlds have been turned upside down. Masks are everywhere now: in my car, purse and home. It has become second nature to mask up. Well, almost. How many times have you gotten out of your car, walked towards a store, and a bell goes off in your head? You’ve got to do the “walk back” to retrieve your mask!
My family made it nearly 10 months in perfect health, not even a cold. I thought it was because we were being cautious, never leaving home without our masks and sanitizer. At times Bob even told me I was “going too far,” like when I wiped down all the outside car handles with Clorox wipes. It turns out, you can be careful and still end up getting the virus.
It began with Bob, six weeks ago. He was having headaches, day after day, for four consecutive days. When he woke on the fifth day with yet another headache, he decided to go to the doctor “just to play it safe.” He was diagnosed with sinus headaches and given an allergy prescription. “Could it possibly be Covid-19?” he asked our family doctor. “No,” he was assured. “Whew, that’s a relief,” I thought when he relayed the news. Afterwards, we did the unthinkable. We had dinner with my parents, who are both in their eighties.
A couple days later, my parents and I felt terribly ill. We immediately got tested and Bob did as well, just in case. All four of us tested positive for Covid-19. Yes, we had “IT.”
The diagnosis of what has become the main news story day after day for a year now became personal. We now wore the COVID badge. The statistics we’ve seen now included us. It hits you mentally as well as physically. I felt like I was run over by a truck, like the flu I had a few years ago. Within ten days though, Bob and I were fine. All along, my primary concern was with my parents. I knew the statistics on age and recovery and the complications that can arise when there are pre-existing conditions. My late-night Google searches for COVID in patients in their eighties was quite unnerving.
After a couple days of worsening health, I took my parents to the hospital Emergency Room. It was a cold night with snow on the way. I felt sick driving off, as I was not able to go in with them. Dad was released. He did remarkable – 84 years old with COPD and he barely missed a step. Mom struggled. She was diagnosed with COVID pneumonia. The virus got a hold on her lungs and was not letting go.
My mom came home a day or two later but seemed to only get worse with each passing day. Ultimately, I begged her to go back to the hospital. By the time she got there, she had a pulmonary embolism. She remained in the hospital for a week.
In that time, I developed a whole new empathy for people who have loved ones in the hospital and cannot see them. Fortunately, my mom could talk to us on the phone most of the time. There was one day she could not talk. We were not able to reach her and when the nurse held the phone up, she was crying out. The feeling of helplessness was crippling. My heart goes out to all the families who have faced that situation.
I’m happy to say, she is now home on oxygen and with visiting nurse care. I am forever thankful for the doctors and nurses on the frontline that cared for her and nursed her back to health. She is getting a little stronger every day.
It’s easy to think that the virus is not THAT serious… until it hits home. That changes everything! I wished I had listened to my 24 year old daughter who from the beginning, was more cautious than I was. “Mom, we are in a global pandemic!” she would say when I mentioned vacation or all the other things I wanted to do. She refused to see her grandparents, only because she never wanted to put them at risk.
I know this pandemic life is getting old. Remember when they told us everything would be fine within three weeks? Now, nearly one year later, I miss people and everything about life as we knew it.
However, people are suffering and dying of this in hospitals alone -without their loved ones by their side. And every day, frontline workers are risking their lives to care for those in need.
For them and for our loved ones, we must persevere. Even as we can see the light at the end of tunnel, we still need to be vigilant. Wear your masks, social distance and take all the recommended precautions.
Please be safe for you and your loved ones.
Peace & Love,
Cindy
