My entire way of life has changed. The way I live, the way I move around my community, what I wear when I go outside of my home, the way that I worship all has changed. I ask myself, what is this new normal and will I ever feel safe again? The only thing that I can come up with is uncertainty.
Concern: Safety of my neighborhood
There is no number, this is a horrible, scary time.
I remain in my house and my daughter no longer goes to Daycare, the park or anywhere for the most part, she is 3 years old.
Hope for That Free Get Out of COVID-19 Card
I was first tested on April 17, 2020 with a POSITIVE result. This meant that I could not return to work, Protocol is that need two NEGATIVE tests before I can return to work. On May 2, 2020, I tested POSITIVE again. I was speechless. On May 7, 2020, ditto. What could I say? On May 22, 2020, I was now tested for the fourth time and YES! NEGATIVE!!! I called all my supports with the wondrous news. I spent 45 minutes with my Boss planning out my work schedule (I had not been inside the jobsite for two months now as I took vacation time prior to the virus smashing into my life) to return June 1, 2020. Needing two NEGATIVE tests was going to be a piece of cake. On May 28, 2020, planning on getting my second NEGATIVE, I decided there was an evil vendetta against me. POSITIVE again. I was devastated. I called my Mom crying with the news. She felt my hurting. I then called my brother followed by my workplace. I’m hoping for June 4, 2020 to be my Free get out of COVID-19 card.
The Coronavirus Journey
Being tested POSITIVE for the coronavirus is a grueling journey.The protocol for this outcome was isolation in my room for at least two full weeks. After that, I would have to be tested until I received two consecutive NEGATIVE results before I could return to the workplace. My room is upstairs and no one was allowed to entire without a mask and gloves on. The sources of nutrition were left at the bottom of the stairs for me, and once I was finishd eating, the dishes were put back on the stairs for removal. I felt like a leper. Slowly, I began to feel Back to the life of the living, I was able to watch TV, more lucid and animated, began to eat, and gain back the seven pounds I had lost. But my most prominent symptom was difficulty breathing. With each passing day, I felt stronger and stronger, better and better. I wasn’t going to let this pandemic coronavirus beat me. Although I’m a fighter, my spirit was shrinking. I had four POSITIVE COVID-19 tests and one NEGATIVE one squeezed in there. I’m still quarantined and feel like an outcast.
Introduced to the COVID-19
I decided to take a mental health week away from work. During that time I took a brisk walk several days,. Although I felt a bit winded I contributed it to being out of shape. I heard about this out of control virus going on in the world but didn’t think much of it. I began feeling symptoms of some kind of ailments. My PCP. He prescribed me a Z-pack and encouraged me to drink a lot of liquids. I developed some new symptoms seemingly designated as the COVID-19 virus growing every day like gossip all over the world. My Mother was fearful that I was extremely infirmed like never before. I had trouble breathing. I had a sore throat. I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow. I had no appetite. I had no strength. The chit chat flooding my surroundings was all about this virus and my need to get tested. I did and the results were Positive. The protocol of this outcome was to be quarantined to my room for at least two weeks.
HOPE and BRAVERY
My Dad, at 86 years old, tested POSITIVE from the COVID-19 virus and had to be hospitalized for 13 days. Elderly people with the virus are more probable to die from the disease and he almost did. I tested POSITIVE as well and beat myself up for giving him the virus and praying for a healthy recovery. It turned out that I hadn’t given it to him, he had given it to me. So, that guilt faded. In the meantime, my Mother, Super Mom, slept next to my Father who had the virus, cleaned up our dirty dishes, came into my room and cared for me, who also had the virus, and continued to keep busy while waiting for her COVID-19 test results. She washed her car, cleaned the grout around the pool, ran a household…and tested NEGATIVE at 81 years old. Absolutely unbelievable. She quickly left the house with freedom. I don’t know where she went, but she was out of here! God Bless her! My Dad came home. He grew a beard. He was on no oxygen, no walker, With his Alzheimer’s, he was needy, confused and forgetful but he was all of those things before going into the hospital. I went into the bank and the teller somehow got privy that I had the virus and told me that I was not permitted inside the bank and had to leave and could not come back until testing NEGATIVE for 14 days. I was humiliated. I wouldn’t wish this horrendous virus n anyone and I support each and every individual who goes through this passage with hope and bravery and ultimately survives it like a hero.
PAINFUL STRUGGLE OF LIFE
I WILL TELL BY AUDIO MSG PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR WHATS APP NUMBER …..
My New Normal
This new normal has been somewhat difficult for me. I am a people person that always greeted everyone with a hug. I work with children and I always greeted them with a kiss and a big hug. When my children see me they come running with arms open wanting that hug and kiss. They dont understand social distances. Having to learn how to use Zoom, Google Classroom and Google Meets has been a challenge. I have gracefully accepted my new normal.
Living with the New Normal
I am working from home, which is a benefit. My children are learning digitally, which means that I have to also teach them academically. For my husband it gas changed his day to day and how he does things and being mindful those who are around him. We have a new normal. Lastly, no real social gathering and meeting with friends.
#Dammit Man
Zuri and I were speaking to Shannon.(The man we have come to know as Dammit Man)As we sat and talked with him, he started to say non-sensible things to make us laugh, but he wouldnt do a proper survey. A few days later, I got a phone call from my neighbor the news that he had died. She said that Dammit Man had spat on the tall blind man not the short one and he smacked him in the head with his cane. I refused to believe her, due to the fact that I had just seen him not to long ago. The more days went by the more I started to believe that what she said was true, but one morning as I began to walk to the YEC I seen him walk walking slower than normal. He told me how he seen god in the hospital and that the world was flat.