LOVE: Surviving COVID-19

When the COVID-19 outbreak, my state was one of the last few to have its first case.  But, even before the first case, I was extra cautious about preventing exposure to the infamous virus.  We stayed home as much as possible during the shutdown of the country, and we remained at home after the shutdown was lifted.  We left home only for a few necessary reasons:  my mother’s dialysis sessions, grocery pick-ups, and doctor appointments.  My greatest fear during the pandemic is to have my mother contract the virus with her many health challenges.

On December 1st, my worst fear became a reality.  My mother was scheduled for cataract surgery on December 1st, but her temperature was 102.9 before the surgery.  She tested positive for COVID-19 that morning.  In fact, my entire household tested positive for COVID-19 that day.  How did we contract the virus, you ask?  The answer lies with my sister who visited my mother (at my mother’s request) for assistance.  My sister informed us that she tested positive.  The following day, my household tested negative.  But, on the day of my mother’s scheduled eye surgery, we were all positive and started to show symptoms over the next two days.   My mother and I were both hospitalized a few days later with pneumonia.  Thankfully, my mother was discharged from the hospital about a week later and I was discharged the following week.

When my mother was discharged from the hospital, she was transported to a residential care facility for physical therapy.  I was discharged a few after my mother.  COVID-19 left me with extreme weakness so I could not bring my mother back home.  I was too weak to provide her adequate care.  Eventually, she stayed with my sister for a few weeks until I could care for her again.  When my mother returned to me, I was still feeling the effects of COVID-19, so I had to depend on assistance from my husband and nephews.  Even today, I am still dependent on my husband and nephews for assistance; but we are doing well, and we LOVE each other.

We survived COVID-19!  Every day is a blessing!  I am grateful when I see the sky every morning and hear my mother’s voice.  The sky and her voice mean I have another day to show her love as her caregiver.  Praises to God!  

To those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 and other reasons, you are in our thoughts and prayers!