Thread by @pkstrode

1/ This is a letter from a math teacher in my District to our School Board. Shared with permission.

Please read and retweet:
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My name is Courtney and I am a high school #math #teacher.

In March, I contracted, battled and survived #COVIDー19.

@boundsa
@amy_harmon

2/ I am an active and healthy 26-year-old. The type of person people say “shouldn’t be stressed” about this virus, much like our students. COVID-19 is a sickness unlike any I have ever endured. The weakness my body felt was worse than any flu, cold or stomach virus I’ve ever had.

3/ My symptoms started slowly, a slight cough, that sent chills down my spine in fear that I had contracted the virus. I immediately quarantined. That evening I started having chest pains similar to heartburn, and the next morning I awoke with a #fever.

4/ For the next 10 days, 85% of my time was spent either sleeping in bed or on the couch. I only have 12 steps in my house, and the simple journey to and from my bedroom was enough to leave me gasping for breath every time.

[Courtney climbs #Colorado's "14ers" for fun]

5/ It took less than 5 days after I contracted #COVID for [my husband] to contract the #virus as well. This meant, neither of us could leave for groceries, medicine or anything else we might need. I am so thankful for the friends and family who ran errands for us.

6/ We did not leave our house for 30 days. And now, months later, I have completely random nerve damage in my spine. While unconfirmed, my doctors believe there is a connection between #COVID and these neurological symptoms. Seems suspect to be coincidental.

7/ Again, I was hiking 14ers, and now due to the nerve damage, I can barely walk 1 mile without a back brace, need physical therapy and medication to control the pain and tingling.

The crazy part is, I consider myself lucky.

8/ I didn’t have to be hospitalized and placed on a ventilator. I didn’t die. These are the symptoms and side effects of a healthy, young adult who had a mild/moderate case of #coronavirus.

Is this [an] illness we are “okay” with having our students battle? Their families?

9/ [W]e are “confident” children won’t have it as bad; healthy people won’t have it as bad.

I am living proof that this isn’t true. There is no containing this in a household. There is no containing this in a classroom. One students positive test [could] have us falling ill.

10/ I implore you. I beg you. Rethink in-person learning this fall. This is not safe for students, teachers, janitors, nurses, admin or families. I am a good teacher. A dedicated teacher. As are all of my high school colleagues. We will make #onlinelearning and teaching work.

11/ The sooner we realize that in-person teaching and learning isn’t the answer, (if given the proper time to prepare) the sooner we can get to work to give our #students a safe and solid #education.

Courtney

/End