The Road to Health: CoVid 19 Can be Stayed

I have seen a few comments on FB regarding my involvement in the development of CoVid 19 in RC or the Inland Empire and I have since heard that these stories are circulating in my community. When I say my community, I mean my church, neighbors, friends. I am addressing these comments or any other fears or stories that might be circulating. I just want my community to be aware of the steps I took to insure that CoVid19 would stop with me.

I got home late at night and the next day developed a fever. I was immediately concerned and contacted Kaiser and left messages multiple times. I demanded to be tested because I wanted to make sure I knew if I had it or not. I didn't want to go back to work and bring the virus to my class. I was finally able to speak to an advice nurse and was told that I probably didn’t have CoVid19. After speaking to her for over an hour as she consulted with doctor on call, and finally after speaking to the doctor, I was told they would send me to the ER and the ER doctor can decide to test me for CoVid or not. The doctor said their main concern was that I had an embolism because of the long plane ride the day before. I said, "I won’t go to the ER and sit in the waiting room with everyone, but I demand to be tested." They gave me the number of the nurse on call in the ER. They instructed me to go to the ER and call them when I arrived and they would meet me at my car.

Everything went as was described.

The nurse escorted to another entrance away from the waiting room. I was isolated in a pressurized room. I was hooked up to an IV and they gave me fluids and medicine to help with pain and dehydration. I was given a test for the flu, for CoVid, and had a cat scan on my lungs. My lungs were clear and I left with a note for one week off work because it takes a week to finalize the test. We stayed quarantined. My whole family quarantined including my ex husband. I wouldn’t allow my children to work or go to school. I did not leave my home. My children were separated from me. I learned two and a half days later that I tested positive. By then my fever was gone. By the end of the week, my symptoms were gone, however, we all stayed quarantined and on symptom watch for 14 days. We did not leave our homes. We washed our hands all the time. We didn't touch our faces. We kept our counter clean with kitchen cleaning agents. We drank a lot of EmergenC. We drank a lot of warm water and tea. We kept ourselves busy with projects and communicated with our loved ones via Zoom.

The health department called me every day. I told them every person I was near before I quarantined—2 people. The asked me what flight I took home from the UK. The health department contacted them. Today, those two people that I was in contact with DO NOT have it. My ex husband and children don't have it, with the exception of Lily who traveled to the UK with me. Lily also quarantined herself while she was in Ut.

Although we are off quarantine, we still self isolate. We still wash our hands. We still stay in as much as we can. We are striving to keep ourselves home to slow the spread. Thanks to loving friends who checked in on our family, all our needs were met: groceries were dropped off at our door, and at the curb, packages were delivered from anonymous parties with treats for our family, phone calls and messages were sent out of love and concern. This was community in action. I have great love and appreciation for those who looked in on us. You know who you are and I thank you again.

Because of my experience I know CoVid 19 can be stayed. We can slow it down.

The only reason why I know I have it is because I DEMANDED that I be tested. If I didn't care enough about it to make the demands I did, I could have been walking around with it, because in my case the symptoms were not that bad. Normally, I would have been at work. Being vigilant is the key. Don't second guess the CDC. Follow their guidelines. We don't know how CoVid will affect us. It seems to attack everyone differently. Until a vaccine is created, we need to be vigilant.

It is my greatest wish that we all stay healthy and stay positive. We must stay strong emotionally as well as physically. We must work at staying connected with our loved ones, our neighbors because isolating is very difficult. We must reconnect with our God. Pray. He is listening and wants us all to come to him for help. I have heard beautiful stories of people who chose to pray for the first time in a long time because of the CoVid virus affecting those they care about. That simple act of faith reconnected them to their Father. This simple, pure connection with our Father in Heaven will bring the peace that we desire. He is always there for us and he will guide us.

The blog was my way of staying connected with my community and my loved ones during this very difficult time. I will begin posting again. We will share ideas about projects, games and poems.

I hope this clears up any stories that may have been circulating.

Sending my love, prayers and wishes for health and peace

xoxo