Cherishing Life of Yesterday While Living The New Norm

My oldest living relative is my Great Aunt Eleanor who is 104. She has seen so much in her life. Her mom had a sister in the early 1900’s who died from the Spanish Flu and her father and sister also had this. The doctor told her mom that she could only save one and that the baby would die. Thankfully the baby (my grandmother) survived. Eleanor still lives independently and is normally very capable, however recently she fell and broke her wrist and ribs. After coming out of rehab she needed help at home. This was the same time that the Coronavirus started. The facility where she lives has gotten increasing tighter on who can and can’t enter. I was helping her get her mail, shower, do laundry, get dressed, among other things. Due to the Coronavirus, I now have to use hand sanitizer, fill out a questionnaire, and have my temperature taken to enter the facility. Just the other day I heard that someone at the facility was tested for Covid-19, but the results haven’t come back. These poor residents are no longer allowed out of their apartments, can no longer eat with their friends, play cards, sing together, play bingo, go to the movie theater, or any of the other myriad things they love to do. I pray for the sake of these seniors that we can quickly get back to life as they knew it.

About This Story

  • Project: COVID-19
  • Date submitted: 2020-04-09 00:00:00
  • Emotional tone: Positive
  • Who should know about this? Everyone
  • Is the story health-related? NA

About the Storyteller

  • Community: Not Connected to a Healthier Together Community
  • Age: 41-50
  • Gender: Female
  • Concerns: Health of my friends and/or family, Health of the community, and Safety of those who can't care for themselves

How the Storyteller Interpreted Their Story

Note: Responses which fell closer to the middle (between two or three options) are shown as two dashes.
  • My story shows we need to: --
  • Who my story is about: --
  • Why people acted the way they did: --
  • How people were treated: People are treated the same
  • In my story, there are: Solutions to problems
  • In my story: I am calm
  • My story shows: --
  • My story teaches us that: --
  • My story teaches us that: --
  • My story is about: NA