Participant 18
Story
Key
Body Posture: Even though I portray myself as happy and sad, I am standing strong. I'm ready to take on whatever challenges that come my way.
Color:
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Red is my favorite color so you would think I would use it for anything I'm portraying as happy. But I can also see red as a sign of anger or something bad. That is why I used it on my head as both hair loss and memory fog.
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Yellow is my happy. This portrays God.
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Blue is sad. Tears
Shapes:
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Tree: strength, family
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Sun: God
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Heart: love
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Tears: sadness
Lines/Textures:
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Jerky lines through my lungs represents trouble breathing, getting air.
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Harsh lines on my head represent the problems with hair loss and memory issues.
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Curved and straight lines around my heart. Radiating happiness.
Personal Symbol: My personal symbol is a big, beautiful tree (family tree) with very large, deep roots.
Personal Slogan: "My roots run deep. That keeps me strong."
Marks on or under the skin: The marks on/under the skin are portrayed on my head for 2 reasons. The first reason is because I started losing my hair. A lot of hair! The second reason is because of my brain fog. Very "heavy" brain fog.
The other marks are on my lungs. I was on oxygen in the hospital and at home. Because it was so hard to breathe, it was hard to talk.
Future: I see happiness in my future. I can see my breathing getting better. I can take walks without getting winded. I'll be able to do more strenuous things like helping with more physical work. Also, I can see myself getting to the street corner and still knowing where I'm going. I'll be able to carry on and complete an intelligent conversation. And I'll be able to remember my plans without notes or a schedule.
Message to others: Although I'm scared, sad, angry and sometimes confused, I can look towards the future and know that steps are being taken to help those of us that have long Covid. That brings happiness to my heart. I'm trying to stay strong, be patient and stay focused.
“I was pretty active before I got sick. I was working part time at a job I loved and moving towards retirement. We loved the outdoors so we camped a lot and spent much of our time with family. A year after Covid 19 had been detected in the US, my husband and I were talking about how grateful we were that we hadn't gotten it. We had been very careful. About a week later I contracted Covid pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital. I was on oxygen in the hospital and when I got home. I was very weak when I got home but as the months passed I started regaining my strength. I was finally off of the oxygen but on several inhalers. Soon after I was off the oxygen, other symptoms started to appear. My hair started falling out by the handfuls. I was shedding like a dog. I would leave hair everywhere I sat. Then my memory started giving me problems. Things that were simple, like logging onto my computer everyday became a challenge because I couldn't remember my logon or password. I would leave the house, on a mission, and by the time I reached the end of the street, I couldn't remember where I was going. I couldn't focus during conversations. My mind would go blank while someone was talking to me. It was like doors were open in my mind and the words the person was saying to me were coming in the front door and going right back out the back door. I would be speaking to someone when, all of a sudden, my mind would go blank and I couldn't remember what I was talking about. In the beginning, I didn't think anyone really noticed until my family confronted me. My hair is starting to grow back now. My breathing is getting better and although I'm still on inhalers, I don't have to use them as often. My memory problems haven't changed yet which caused me to retire a little earlier than planned. My memory is what bothers me the most. I know that God will take me back to where I was or, at least, to my new normal but it will be on His time. He will be busy working with those that are working to help all of us. I can't help but wonder that we may have been chosen by Him to go through this and share our experience so that doctors will be able to help others in the future. Don't get me wrong, I don't like what I am going through, but If I was chosen, I will humbly take this on in order to help others.” - COVID Long Hauler