Dating : My Personal COVID-19 Story

When I was in the thick of my illness, I sat on my couch night after night trying not to “Covadose” (ingesting too much news). But I always made sure to witness on line the thousands of New Yorkers on their patios and sidewalks every night at 7:00 pm.

*Link to the article and video accompanying this photo: HERE.

This is the hour when hospital personnel change their shifts and New Yorkers let them know, banging pots and pans and cheering at the top of their lungs that these people in the hospital who work 12-hour shifts — most with families of their own — are true heroes. These are Thank You’s that cannot be measured and are a part of modern history.

We are all susceptible, don’t take life for granted, count your blessings.

But How Did I Get COVID-19?

Since my city of Los Angeles was on lock down back in March, I was diligent. I disinfected my home, wore gloves and masks, washed my hands repeatedly, and complied with every measure asked of our community. My company ordered us to work from home (more about them later) and I was self-quarantined.

I was (and still am) beyond grateful to have the opportunity to work from home. But self-isolating with Stella, my three-legged pup (who jumps higher and runs faster than me) after a few weeks was proving more than a little frustrating. I missed human touch. Seeing my work family in the office. Hanging with friends. The food servers Stella and I would visit on the weekends walking around our neighborhood.

Like everyone, I miss it all.

What fueled my mental mayhem in addition to the beginning of my physical suffering was the fact that I was not approved for COVID-19 testing. I was told if I had trouble breathing, or my fever hit 104.0 to call 911 and head to the hospital.

Which comes first, the chicken or the body bag?

So I suffered alone at home and wracked my brain trying to figure out the why and the how. Even when you think you did everything possible to ward off this new virus (of which there is no cure), some of us were still (and continue to be) struck by it’s wrath.

After weeks of driving myself crazy, trying to recount steps to locate careless behavior, I finally landed on ‘not disinfecting my delivery food bags’ and had to let it go. I have no idea if this was the culprit, but I needed to end the torturous cycle I created in my mind for my own sanity.

It’s like opening your refrigerator door and a jar of mustard falls out for no reason and spills everywhere. You can spend an eternity on the why instead of working with the problem: just clean it up. COVID-19 isn’t mustard, but understanding how to let go of the why (instead of focusing on damage-control) is the lesson.

Before my symptoms began, as I lay in bed alone covered in sweat, my body aching, unable to lift my head for a sip of water, I was still in disbelief that I had COVID-19. Then the muscle pain, pressure on my chest, and brain fog started; the lack of taste and smell crept in — and my temperature hit 102.8. I couldn’t sleep. My anxiety was off the charts. This was particularly scary because of my cerebral aneurysm.

After calling my internist, taking a trip to Urgent Care (different than an ER (emergency room) to a hospital in the U.S. and speaking with several people from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), a very kind voice on the other end of the line told me what I already knew: I had a mild case of COVID-19.

Ironically, staying away from the hospital was the safest place to be, I was told. If my symptoms, as awful as they were didn’t worsen, I could “ride this out” at home alone. There was no way of cross-contaminating myself with others. Deal.

So What Happened With Testing?

After the powers that be loosened up its restrictions for COVID-19 testing in Los Angeles, I was finally approved to make an appointment. I created a two-minute video of my experience HERE.

It’s been three weeks, and still no results. After five phone calls and three emails, I’ve been told my test can’t be found.

“Try looking under Mcdonald, instead of Macdonald”, I said. “I have the confirmation number of my appointment,” I continued. Still, no luck.

Compounded with exhaustion and frustration and at this point, I didn’t need a test to tell me what I already knew. Just as I don’t require proof that I am on the other side of this beast now. It’s frustrating, sure, because it’s impossible to measure what cannot be found — but again — let go of what you cannot control. Lather, rinse repeat.

Which brings me to my final lesson: Gratitude

All is not lost and hopeless (careful not to “Covadose” with watching/reading too much news). Of the millions of people in the world who have contracted COVID-19, (including senior officers at my own company), some are living proof that happy endings exist.

It takes vulnerability (the silk-lined stitching of human strength) for the head of a major fortune 500 company to share personal details with thousands of employees. Or for the senior officer and head of your division to share the news that he, too has contracted (and recovered from) COVID-19.

But something happened to me as one of their employees, after learning that even they aren’t immune — “they” — those ‘higher-ups’ in the company who provide your paychecks and comfort the masses in crisis. I was reminded (and felt more connected to them) that they’re just like us; human, empathetic, strong, and vulnerable. Well, maybe not exactly like us: they are incredible, inspirational leaders.

Whenever I rode the elevator with the head of our company, I used to subconsciously hold my breath a little; the only reason being, that I was intimidated by his position, not him personally. Silly, I know. But this is office politics. There seems to be an unwritten rule from ages ago that if you’re not on the top floor surrounded by ocean views with your own wall-to-wall glass office, you’re not an equal.

I cannot speak for every company out there, but I am so fortunate to be a part of mine because — this is simply not the case where I work.

The man in the elevator is not an unkind person. In fact, kindness, ethics, intellect, and competence are the first words that come to mind whenever I run into The Big Wig of our company.

The same can be said for another COVID-19 case at my workplace (the leader of our division). He shared his experience with the countless employees in our company very matter of factually — and assured us that he would be fine, just as our Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer would be — and incidentally, is.

The fact that two senior officers shared their humanity with us, even us worker-bees below the top floor, for me was everything. This was all before I contracted the disease myself — and after learning they kicked COVD’s ass, I knew was in good company when my symptoms blew in.

I won’t speak on behalf of all of my company’s employees, but after realizing the courage it took to shed light on a side of themselves that some may see as a chink in Corporate Political Armor, it only made me love and respect them as human beings more than I already did as our company leaders. Working for a solid company with leaders who have ethics and treat their employees like their own family is a true blessing.