Participant 5
Story
“I am a mom of a 3-year-old and a newborn baby girl. It was March of 2021 when everything took a twist in life. Me and my 3-year-old son tested positive for covid. I had just given birth to my baby girl, and I was determined to breastfeed my baby for as long as I was able to and to try my Hardest to make this goal come true. I had a hard time with my first child when it came to breast feeding, so it meant a lot to me to be able to breastfeed this time. When I was diagnosed with covid I was sick and tired, and I wasn't able to care for my family anymore. Since I was sick and tired, I wasn't able to eat anymore, and I wasn't able to keep up with breastfeeding. I felt lonely and isolated I wasn't able to be around my husband and newborn. I felt like I wasn't a good wife or mom, and I wasn't able to even care for myself.” - COVID Long Hauler
Key
Body Posture: The posture in my body map was me laying still and it represented my life at the movement because I felt like my lifer stood still.
Marks on/ under skin: The Darker black marks on my body represented fatigue that I keep feeling and suffer from till this day. The orange squiggle lines on my feet represented numbness that I kept feeling in my feet my right foot felt heavier than my left. The red marks with black represented the smell of smoke that I kept smelling, it was a constant and still ongoing symptom that I have. I can smell smoke all around me.
Personal symbol and slogan: My personal symbol was a bottle with a broken heart, and it represented me not being able to breastfeed and I had to give my daughter a bottle. My personal slogan was My body can produce all the nourishments my baby needs.
Shapes/Symbols: The black smoke on my head represented brain fog that I had and still have to this day as well as memory Is. The yellow smiley face with the smoke flames represented my loss of smell and the smell of smoke. The peace sign represented that I was at peace with my situation and thankful that it wasn't worse, and I am still alive. The semicolon represents mental health I suffered from post-partum and anxiety, and it was a rough time. The infinity sign represented my close family and friends and the endless love and support they showed me during these hard times. The Smiley face with a mask represented how I was happy that I was okay, and my family wasn't sick but sad because I wasn't as close to my kids and my husband, and I felt like there was always a barrier between us.
Support Structures: My husband and children were my support structures they were my hope and that's what the rainbow represents. They guided me and helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel when I thought I’d never see it again and that's what the star represents. The hearts represent my love for them and how we are all connected.
Quotes: The quotes represented some of phrases that I thought helped me and relate to my story and future.
Future: My future is with my healthy family, thankful for them, and for their health. My symbols of them represents my future with them and my hope for a brighter and healthier future. I hope that the future brings better days with covid free symptoms and filled with love and health for my family.