After two years in a pandemic, it finally happened. I got Covid.
My family has been extremely cautious because we have two small children. We are avid mask wearers, frequently washing hands, we pay attention to the number of Covid cases in our area to base the activities we partake in, and all who can get vaccinated in my immediate family have done so. With how contagious the Omicron variant is, I knew that it would be a miracle to not get it during the current wave. Last week, my daughter came home tired and feeling sick. We had known a few of her classmates had gotten Covid recently and my husband and I gave one another a knowing glance. We tested her with my stash of rapid tests and the test lit up like a Christmas tree. This had been my fear all along that one of my kids would get Covid.
We put her down for an early bedtime and made our plan of how to move forward. I knew there was a strong likelihood that I would get Covid this time. I have managed to dodge getting sick with Covid but knew having a child test positive would make it really challenging to not catch it. We called the school, the pediatrician, and did a grocery pickup. It felt like we were preparing for a hurricane. Luckily, my daughter had an extremely mild case. My husband and I were both able to work from home and take turns making calls or taking meetings. (It is not lost on me how much of a luxury being able to work remotely is.) It was challenging, but the kids were both good sports about the whole situation considering.
48 hours later, I had that ominous tickle in the back of my throat and knew I had it.
Once I was sick, the challenge increased exponentially. Normally, I am the last one to get sick. By the time everyone has caught the sickness, we can send the kids back to school and I have time to get well. I had a really hard time juggling it all. With Covid, it is a whole different animal. You can’t phone a family member for help because you are trying to contain the sickness in your own home. AND we were the lucky ones. We have been so fortunate that the cases were mild in comparison to what so many families are going through with Covid. I’m so grateful that the vaccine helped us to fight off this thing. It felt like at the last minute the hurricane track moved and my home, my loved ones were spared. I am left with a grateful heart.
I described having Covid to family and friends as having the “boogie man disease.” We’ve done so much to not get it and protect those we love. I don’t regret any of those actions over the past two years. It was a loving act for my family, friends, community, and myself. I did my best and that’s all I can do. I will continue to make thoughtful choices when it comes to my Covid risk tolerance.
