I used to begin each day reviewing the statistics of the pandemic. I would then open the medical journals and peruse the latest published articles. What treatment was showing promise? What are we learning about the virus and it’s RNA? What have we learned about how this virus spreads? So many questions.

I then began to realize what wasn’t being addressed. The toll on people like myself. It really hit me today when I read another disabled person’s FB post. She was desperate. She noted the toll this had taken on her mentally. The stress of isolation. Complete isolation. Her desperation seemed to leap off the page toward me. As if it was shaking me by the shoulders. I knew that desperation. I felt it. I feel it every day.

While everyone is complaining about missing Thanksgiving or Christmas with their families. Or not being able to ramble an overly crowded mall to shop. There is an entire population of people like myself who are extremely isolated. We are chronically ill. Immunocompromised. Disabled. We live ALONE. We have been enduring this lockdown as a true lockdown for us. Our only face to face contact is usually with a health care provider. For nine months!

We can’t risk that fun social distanced fire pit you’ve had with your friends. We can’t risk having a few friends over for a social distanced get together. We can’t risk any exposure because we know that if we get the virus, we most likely will not survive.

So we live alone, isolated and fearful. We are also angry. At least I know I am. I am extremely angry that this pandemic wasn’t handled better when it began. I, purchased masks in January 2020. If I knew it was coming in January, how is it that our government did not? How is it that the response in February or March was still so lacking?

I’m also angry at the people who refused to take this seriously and continue to do so. It is those people who have exacerbated this pandemic. Who continue to drive up the numbers instead of allowing us to flatten the curve. By not strictly following mitigation guidelines, these people have contributed directly to the spread of the virus. They are directly responsible for the fact that people like myself remain isolated.

So please, before you begin to complain again about the holiday dinner you may have to miss or the shopping experience from hell you can’t enjoy this year, stop. Stop and take a minute to think of the many people who are and have been enduring this very differently than you. The people who are truly isolated and alone. Think about the toll this has had on them. It is tremendous.

And please, think of those families who have already lost loved ones to this virus. I’m sure they’d gladly give up a holiday meal for the life of their loved one.

Wear a mask, practice mitigation, wash your hands, stop bitching and get vaccinated when you can. This needs to end.

😷😷😷😷😷

#Disability

#MS

#Immunecompromised