Meet my mom (on the right).
She’s a mother to three, a grandmother to six, and probably in better shape than all of us.
This week, she tested positive for COVID-19.
She’s a mother to three, a grandmother to six, and probably in better shape than all of us.
This week, she tested positive for COVID-19.
She's okay—but she wants me to tell you her story to convince you to stay home.
Symptoms started on March 14. Temperature, but not alarmingly high, headache, slight cough. Here's what she said one night: "It feels like someone is stabbing my bones."
Her doctor wouldn't see her.
Symptoms started on March 14. Temperature, but not alarmingly high, headache, slight cough. Here's what she said one night: "It feels like someone is stabbing my bones."
Her doctor wouldn't see her.
She called her county health department, who suggested she go to a drive-thru testing facility nearby.
After going all the way there, she was turned away. Didn't meet the criteria.
Meanwhile, people she knew started testing positive.
After going all the way there, she was turned away. Didn't meet the criteria.
Meanwhile, people she knew started testing positive.
Here's the scary part.
My parents live in a small town in Colorado, a rural, isolated place that's facing one of the worst outbreaks in the country.
In the state of Colorado, 16 of every 100,000 people have it.
In their county, 233 of every 100,000 people have it.
My parents live in a small town in Colorado, a rural, isolated place that's facing one of the worst outbreaks in the country.
In the state of Colorado, 16 of every 100,000 people have it.
In their county, 233 of every 100,000 people have it.
According to this estimate, if stricter measures are not taken, 16 percent of county residents will be infected by mid-April.
There is only a small hospital there. There are no ICU beds.
The county only issued a shelter in place order *last night.*
There is only a small hospital there. There are no ICU beds.
The county only issued a shelter in place order *last night.*
So the reason my mom wanted to get tested is because of my dad. He has a pacemaker.
She's smart—she isolated herself right away, even though no one told her to do so.
Last Friday, she went back to try and get tested again.
The person who did the test was her doctor.
She's smart—she isolated herself right away, even though no one told her to do so.
Last Friday, she went back to try and get tested again.
The person who did the test was her doctor.
My parents are okay, but they're now faced with weeks or months of taking care of themselves, while remaining isolated from each other.
All their friends who could help them out need to stay isolated, too.
And there's nothing we can do to help any of them.
All their friends who could help them out need to stay isolated, too.
And there's nothing we can do to help any of them.
When my mom first got sick, even when we didn't know it was COVID-19 yet, I felt so helpless.
But I realized there *was* something my family could do, even from far away.
We're staying home to protect your mom.
I hope that you're doing the same thing.
curbed.com/2020/3/17/2118…
But I realized there *was* something my family could do, even from far away.
We're staying home to protect your mom.
I hope that you're doing the same thing.
curbed.com/2020/3/17/2118…
Thank you everyone for all your sweet notes, which I will reply to soon.
She is doing so much better today that she's back to her painting.
But please do keep her in your thoughts—we're not out of the woods quite yet 😉
She is doing so much better today that she's back to her painting.
But please do keep her in your thoughts—we're not out of the woods quite yet 😉
A few quick things to add since I've gotten a few questions.
Yes—she did have an acute loss of smell and taste! This is a symptom that seems to be fairly prevalent, even when other symptoms are not as pronounced. npr.org/sections/goats…
Yes—she did have an acute loss of smell and taste! This is a symptom that seems to be fairly prevalent, even when other symptoms are not as pronounced. npr.org/sections/goats…
Here's where I got the graphic showing county-by-county estimates for how many people will be infected.
You can see how the numbers will change if stricter measures are taken. It's a helpful tool to show people their actions will make a difference. nytimes.com/interactive/20…
You can see how the numbers will change if stricter measures are taken. It's a helpful tool to show people their actions will make a difference. nytimes.com/interactive/20…
Some of you have asked how my dad is holding up.
He has spent his time in isolation building an igloo.
As you can see, there is definitely something wrong with him, but he remains healthy 🙃
He has spent his time in isolation building an igloo.
As you can see, there is definitely something wrong with him, but he remains healthy 🙃
