I always thought my father would get and suffer with his chronic health issues. I never expected to lose him so quickly especially by him not being able to breathe. He left this planet on his terms with the people he loved next to him. As an infectious disease practitioner I personally was battling this virus from the beginning, attempting to keep patients safe. What a kick in the gut to not only lose my father but to watch him die in my hospital. I still ask “is this just a bad joke life has played on me?”

My father is on my shoulder all the time. He is always encouraging me and keeping me on track. I know he is so proud I still work at the hospital although it’s one of the most difficult processes I’ve endured.

I can still see him through the glass smiling and pointing at me. It’s a life-long joke meaning you’re in trouble. Miss you Pup. Your family is not the same since you left.

I was in the ICU with COVID for 29 days, 14 of which were on a ventilator. Nothing was working until they gave me Remdesivir. When they let me leave, I spoke with one of my nurses (who spoke the best English) and she told me of the only other patient: a woman who she became friends with. The nurse was saddened because her friend wanted to go to her daughter’s wedding and didn’t make it. When I returned to thank the staff after a few weeks, the women in administration actually cried because I was not supposed to make it. All the reports were bad, bad, bad.

I mourn for her and don’t know why I made it, and she did not. At first this really used to bother me, but I try to make sure I live everyday savoring life. What does this mean? For me it means really talking to people instead of just bumping into them in life. I’m truly interested in what’s going on in other people’s lives. I have little fear of being embarrassed any more. For heaven’s sake, I almost wasn’t here. I have always known how to sing, but due to my fear/adoption issues, I couldn’t do it publicly. Well, now I do karaoke frequently with my wife. Too bad I waited until I ripped the ventilator tube out of my throat twice in the ICU and I think I caused a little damage. Oh, well!

I walk on the beach several times a week with my beautiful labradoodle that my wife promised me (and I heard while on the ventilator). I work with guys in prison to try to improve themselves. I mentor college students from my alma mater. My retirement plan was solidified. After all, I almost missed out on that.

My story might not be appropriate for this forum, but I wanted to share it just in case. I will never forget the woman who didn’t make her daughter’s wedding. I can only hope her daughter was able to make it through that troubling time and had a great wedding.

So my story is not about Covid but it is about loss at that time. My longtime partner died during the pandemic. He lost his fight against addiction. The fact that we couldn’t have a funeral forever changed my view on loss. I never got why funerals were important until we couldn’t have one.

Emily was a dear friend in New Orleans who had once worked for my company there as the office manager.

When she got her first symptoms of Covid she told us she was scared. We encouraged her to go to the doctor immediately and to follow her advice.

Emily was following President Trump and suggested that his recommendation to use bleach injections to “cleanse the virus…” from her body was something she was considering. We told her that was a lie from the president and he had zero scientific support for that ridiculous idea. After her doctor ordered her to be admitted to the hospital she went against everyone’s advice except the.idiotic remedy recommended by the president of the United States Donald J. Trump.

Emily injected herself with 100% bleach and she was discovered the following morning unresponsive on the bathroom floor. She was alive but in a coma. She died that evening.

She was 38 years old. We miss her every day.

I affectionately called my Husband “Husband”. Husband died from Covid-19 November 3, 2020 after being in the hospital 11 days. The last thing we did together was early voting and had lunch at BJ’s at Hulen Mall. We would always go out to eat after Church on Sunday’s. He would always say, “Wife what are you going to eat today”? I miss him so much, and not a day goes by I don’t think of him. He was so smart, intelligent, and such a kind spirit. Husband loved me and loved his children,his family and his Church family. He loved all genre’s of music. We would laugh, talk, tease each other. I’m more playful and would play jokes on him and he would just shake his head. I miss him so much. I will close now and pray for each of you as you share your stories about your loved ones. May God bless you.🙏