My son and husband both tested positive for COVID last week. We were so shocked, and scared, and angry, especially because we've been incredibly diligent for so long. But COVID found us anyway. We are very, very grateful that their symptoms are mild to moderate. It could be so much worse. Months ago I'd assembled a "Kovid Kit" in a giant baggie, with a thermometer, pulse oximeter, Tylenol, Kleenex, masks, and phone charger. I was glad to be able to just throw the bag across the room. But it never occurred to me that I'd need more than one kit. I had two years to imagine what this would be like. But I never did. I think I'd assumed that with masks, vaccines, and lockdowns we'd be safe. But here we are, and I'm surprised at how unprepared I am, despite my "kit." Like, I didn't know that my insurance will pay for 8 home tests, per month, per person. Now I know, but I can't find them anywhere. I was also completely in the dark about anti-virals. We don't have a primary care doctor, and none of the test-and-treat pharmacies here offer tele-health. And it seemed hard to believe that they'd want people infected with COVID to show up in person. It took me two days and $50 to find a "Doctor on Demand" tele-health that would prescribe. Family visits and social activities have been cancelled, and now we're in a holding pattern. This is a photo of one our "feed bags" - bottled water, apple slices, and cereal bars. We just hang the bag on the bedroom doorknob to send food in and out.
June 15, 2023
I gave birth to my little girl three weeks ago.. Just as a 'second wave' was beginning to affect Greece. I have been extremely happy due to the arrival of my beautiful daughter, but I also have a ton of emotions, positive, mixed and sometimes even negative, as is usual in this stage after birth.. where hormones and emotions all run very high. The re-rise of Covid-19 in my country has also affected me quite negatively. I am afraid to meet people, and to introduce my daughter to anyone but my relatives. I don't know how long this will last, which is the scariest part of it all. nor how many victims we are yet to count, globally. I am also afraid that the blow on the economy at this second stage, on a pan-European scale, will be huge. Generally, I am cautious and fearful, but I am also filled with optimism. Perhaps it's because I gave birth to new life, and this breeds hope. I keep comparing our current era to a century ago; the interwar period, which was full of violence, the rise of fascism, and uncertainty. And I think, "it's not as bad as then, at least".
October 23, 2020