In Conversation With: COVID-19 Survivors
* Disclaimer: In order to protect the identities of the individuals featured in this story, all names have been changed. The Argus reserves the right to keep this information private as well as the name of the author of this piece. Furthermore, none of the individuals interviewed contracted COVID-19 in Thunder Bay nor are they current residents of the city or region.
Close your eyes. Can you picture someone that you know that has had COVID-19? Unfortunately, as we approach almost a full year of this pandemic, many of us can name at least one person. Personally, I can name roughly eight of my loved ones that have had this horrible virus, contracting it in various countries around the globe. Oftentimes, the media is complicit in perpetuating a single story of what it means to be someone who has had COVID-19. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to misconceptions and preconceived notions of what it means to test positive for COVID. We must actively seek out opportunities to hear diverse viewpoints: otherwise, we risk accepting one experience as the whole truth. In light of this, I felt compelled to sit down with some of my friends who have had, and thankfully recovered from, coronavirus. Listening to them talk about their lived experiences still brings tears to my eyes and brings back memories of initially finding out about their diagnosis. Stay disciplined Canada: by loving each other from afar we can and will get through this pandemic together. Without further ado, here is my interview with Freya, 21* , Maisie, 18* and Valentina, 18*.
Interviewer: How did you realize that you had COVID-19 (ie. what symptoms were you presenting that caused you to go get tested)?
F: “I had found out that someone in my inner circle tested positive, so I was pretty religiously monitoring how I felt. The first few symptoms were overall body fatigue, slight sore throat, and harder time taking full deep breaths.”
M: “I was at the grocery store and I was picking out a new shampoo and when I tried to smell some bottles to see if I like the scent, I couldn’t smell anything. After this, my sister made me smell a perfume that she was going to buy and when I couldn’t smell it at all, I knew that I must have COVID.”
V: “I realized that I had COVID-19 because one of my classmates texted me that she had tested positive for the virus. So my entire class, myself included, had to get tested to see if we were positive as well. Three days before I was tested, I had a fever and I felt really sick which caused me to suspect that I was positive. I exhibited symptoms of a fever, fatigue, exhaustion and a migraine.”
Interviewer: What was your initial reaction when you found out that you had COVID?
F: “I had mentally prepared myself before getting results back, I knew it was very likely that I had it but there was still a surreal moment when you realize that you’re now a statistic and had to isolate, etc. That kind of reinforced the magnitude of the situation. Overall, I was slightly worried but was more concerned about the next plan of action to recover.”
M: “I wasn’t actually worried about myself, I was more worried that my family could be sick as well.”
V: “My first reaction when I realized that I had COVID-19 was shocked. I started to cry and I was angry and afraid. I was afraid because of all the information that I knew about COVID and didn’t know what was going to happen to me. I was worried about putting my family in danger because I tested positive, I never wanted to transmit the virus to them and I was concerned about being contagious. Also, I was really mad because I followed the rules. I practiced social distancing, wore my mask, and stayed home when possible. I started to question myself and think, “Why me?” It just didn’t make sense.”
TA: How did COVID manifest for you? ie. How long did it last for? What symptoms did you have?
F: “ I isolated for 10 days following the first symptoms and felt completely fine after that period. I ended up losing taste and smell from days 3-9.”
M: “ I could not smell or taste anything, which was super bizarre. The symptoms lasted for less than a week but I kept testing positive for COVID for more than two weeks following my last symptom.”
V: “ I had COVID for a month and a half. For me, it manifested as a fever, fatigue, migraines, and shortness of breath. I could not taste or smell anything, which was strange.”
TA: What were the medications/treatments that helped you the most? Did you ever consider going to the hospital?
F: “ I took no medications or treatments; my symptoms were very mild and were gone by about day 5 so I never considered the hospital.”
M: “ I didn’t need any medication at all, I had very mild symptoms and had to quarantine in my room for 14 days.”
V: “ I had a fever for three days and when I felt extremely sick the medication that helped me the most was “tachipirina” (Tylenol). It helped me to bring my fever under control. I never considered going to the hospital because I just had a fever and so it wasn’t necessary for me to go to the hospital.”
TA: What do you want people to know about being a survivor of COVID?
F: “ I understand the frustration of lockdown and inconvenience of life circumstances, however, I’d re-emphasize the necessity of these rules and as someone who’s been through the ordeal, it can be easy to let your guard down and all it takes is one exposure. Also, it is equally as important to be aware that people who test positive not only have to deal with the personal health repercussions, but also deal with the negative stigmas associated with COVID-19. Be compassionate and don’t assume.”
M: “ I think people need to be more disciplined and cautious because COVID is a real threat.”
V: “ I really want people to know that it was a very scary time and I felt afraid through all of it. I was aware of the fact that I could be contagious and didn’t want to give the virus to my loved ones. You really start to question yourself and wonder if there was more you could do to have avoided contracting it or if it was inevitable. You feel responsible for contracting the virus and you worry that your parents and grandparents won’t survive if you did give it to them. What I really want to make clear to everyone is that you MUST keep your masks on, keep following the guidelines; this is the only way we will get through the pandemic.”
TA: What month and where did you receive your Covid diagnosis?
F: “ November 2020, USA.”
M: “ November 2020, Milan, Italy.”
V: “ November 2020, Rome, Italy.”
TA: How did your Covid diagnosis affect your loved ones?
F: “ I only told the necessary select few people about my diagnosis because it would only cause worry and additionally, like I mentioned before, there’s a negative stigma associated with testing positive and I didn’t want to glamourize my situation. My loved ones that were aware of the situation were very supportive and helped in any way that they could.”
M: “ My family was worried about me and sad that they couldn’t physically see me, but happy that we could at least isolate in the same house even though I had to stay in my room. My friends were concerned about my health because they couldn’t see me for close to a month and it was very scary for them.”
V: “ When I received my diagnosis, everyone was shocked and worried for me. My parents were also worried about their jobs because of course, since I tested positive they couldn’t go to work and we all live in the same house so they were concerned about testing positive themselves.”
TA: After this experience, do you feel any palpable changes in your daily mindset or perspective?”
F: “Definitely has changed my perspective on COVID-19. I think the media has propagated a very specific image of the virus. Getting COVID has allowed me to adopt my own personal outlook on it. This experience helped me to become more vigilant in my efforts to prevent future contraction and become a more avid supporter for stricter laws regarding spread. I got COVID without breaking any laws or regulations [in the US], and I believe that more can be done to keep our communities safe. Being a student at university with COVID-19 was difficult. They put me in an apartment complex full of people who tested positive and we couldn’t go outside. We had meals delivered to us since it was pretty cramped. My professors weren’t the most understanding since they were losing a whole bunch of students at the same time so unfortunately, I had to try and do everything on time. I can’t imagine what it was like for the kids who were actually super sick.”
V: “ I feel different because I’ve learned to appreciate my family because I was stuck in quarantine with them and they helped me pass the time. I want to spend more time with the people that I love and not be worried about mundane things. My family is my life and I don’t want to not spend time with them because I was prioritizing other things. I’ve stopped thinking that I am immune from being touched by a virus from another country and I think that we need to think more about our communities and less about ourselves. By this I mean that it is crucial for everyone to wear a mask, whether you believe it’ll help or not is irrelevant. In Italy, it has been horrible to watch doctors pick between people's lives and I do not wish to see this happen again or become a reality in Canada.”
Now whenever I hear a new case of COVID being reported, I remember that there is a name, face, and story behind this ‘number’; that we are talking about a human- they are not just a statistic. Hearing the emotion in the voices of my loved ones while I interviewed them really solidified this concept for me. Often, we can be quick to judge someone who has gotten COVID and assume that they weren’t being careful. However, this is unfair and many people have contracted the virus while following all of the rules. We must stop ostracizing those who have had COVID and instead accept that this is a reality for millions of people worldwide. If I have taken anything away from this interview, it is that everyone’s experience is different and we must continue to remain vigilant. Wear your mask, stay six feet apart, wash your hands, and support COVID survivors!
