To be able to say those words is a privilege that I do not take for granted. We have done so much to prevent this horrible disease from entering our home and yet it did. Every time we speak to someone and they discover we had COVID, the questions ensue. Did you lose you smell? Taste? What was your worse symptom? We answer happily because we believe in the free flow of information. If something we have experienced can help any of you then we are happy to share. So let us tell you a bit about our experience.

Exposure

This is one of the first questions that we have been asked, “How did you get it?”. The honest answer is we just do not know. This is what we do know. We have limited our interactions to the public in numerous ways. For one we have put a pause on farmers markets to protect our family and to do what we could to protect our community. This was a great cost to us financially however what price can one put one put on life? So we adjusted our business model and continue to do so. We practice contact-less delivery with our microgreen delivery service as well as with all our deliveries. We have also implemented changes in our harvesting of produce, with mask and gloves. That is just the business side of it.

Home life has changed for us as it has for most of you. Most of our groceries are ordered online and picked up. They are then sprayed or wiped down with disinfectant before being stored. Even the counters on which these items are set are then also sanitized. It is tiring but well worth it. Our youngest is growing so fast thus visits to clothing stores have become a necessary evil. I’m not much of a shopper so even this task is delegated to Mr. Bain Home Gardner. Those clothes too are then washed before wearing. Being that our guys work in the public we also have routines in place for them as they come home and get situated. We wear our masks everywhere and on occasion even gloves. Some how despite all this COVID made its way into our home.

Realizing We Were Sick

So the first person to show symptoms was our son. Body aches and a sore throat. That was it. No fever or anything else for that matter. Since he has asthma we assumed he was having symptoms associated with the weather change. See that particular week was particularly damp and cold which usually triggers symptoms for him. He treated with the normal regimen. Cautiously though we decided to suspend all deliveries until he was better. We are so glad we did! About 4 days later I too began to show symptoms and our daughter about 2 days after me. For me it started with a tickle in my chest that made me cough. Thai had a fever with body aches. Jarod, though having the pre-existing condition of asthma had very mild symptoms. This is the irony of this situation. Terry, who also has a history of asthma tested negative for COVID. WILD! As a mother I have to say how thankful I am that Jarod & Thai (though she was never tested) did not suffer as I did with this virus. I really wouldn’t wish it on my worse enemy.

My symptoms were by leaps and bounds the most severe. I have never smoked. I do not have asthma. In fact, my lungs are probably the most healthy operating body system! I began with a fever about 3 days after the tickle in my chest and subsequent violent cough. Since at this point I didn’t have anyone to get me there, I had a Telemed visit with my doctor. He decided that since I hadn’t had any exposure I likely didn’t have COVID but a respiratory infection. Meds were called in which I started right away. Around day 2 I began to suffer with nausea and diarrhea and by day 4 I couldn’t eat. The cough was so violent that my chest and back hurt constantly. I couldn’t walk from the bed to the toilet (20 feet ish) without a coughing fit. Talking – coughing fit. Drink – cough… you get the idea. Day 5 I seemed to improve some. I thought the meds had finally begun to work. However I was so wrong. Day 6 was the worse day yet and on day 7, after passing out from literally not being able to breath between coughing, my husband took me to the ER. I was very weak, unable to walk without support. I took several breaks walking to the van in our driveway. I simply couldn’t get enough air in my system. Suddenly I was able to empathize with my asthmatic family members. It hurt to breathe, even shallow breaths.

When we reported to the ER and was triaged I could tell the nurses were having a hard time believing me. I can’t even blame them. It just didn’t add up yet it was happening. The severity of my symptoms lined up with someone who had a compromised respiratory system. They let me know that it was up to the doctor to decide if I needed to be tested for COVID but with my symptoms and they were sure I would be. I was positive. My O2 sats were a little below normal but didn’t warrant hospitalization. I was warned that I was at the point where things could turn badly rather quickly. I was also cautioned that things were going to get worse before they got better and that they did! Smell and taste both began to be affected around day 9.

My fever lasted for 10 or 11 days. It went down but never went away. My cough remains to this day though I am 2 days out from the two period this virus runs. Things that are sweet and savory taste odd. Salty flavors are pretty clear. Around day 12 Jarod and I both had a shared phenomena where everything tasted like okra for a day. Smell is oddly still off. It is really the thing I miss more than the taste even. My nose is very sensitive and has become my best friend! Now though the smell of some things will trigger nausea not because it actually smells bad but because I’m not smelling it as it actually is. It is still uncomfortable to take a deep breath but I finally can. Fatigue and brain fog is the order of the day. This blog alone took several days to complete. As soon as I could I went outside and just laid in the sun. Vitamin D is said to help with recovery. I’m not sure on the science of that but I do know it did me great good to just feel the sun on my skin. It certainly did me some good emotionally! Physically things are moving slower. However we have the very best friends and spiritual family! So many calls, text messages, and cards have really touched us. We have had food dropped off at the doorstep, errands ran in our behalf, and even still friends are bringing dinner until I’m back on track. We as a family want to take this time to say thank you to all of you. Truly we are blessed.

Vaccinations

This is yet another topic that has recently come up. “Are you going to get vaccinated?” Hmm, we are watching the scene for now. We think it is a good idea for each family to research the vaccine ahead of time and prayerfully make a choice based on your own circumstances.

This experience has helped me to realize that how pervasive this virus really is! We will continue to implement practices that protect our family and our community. It is the only thing we can do for now. We hope that soon COVID-19 is just a distant memory. In the meantime, stay safe guys – from our family to yours.