“The story of my map is roughly the same as when my story with this virus first began. I am still sleeping on my side and struggling with doing basic daily task, even though I can complete a few more tasks it is still difficult. I practice yoga when I can, and I spend time with God daily. Thank you all and be blessed. Journey: Before I became sick with covid-19 and later on diagnosed with long covid I worked 2 jobs; one as nursing assistant and one as an occupancy specialist. I lifted weights and did cardio 4-5 days per week. I also participated with my company in the Detroit Free Press relay marathon; I ran in it in 2018 and 2019. On both occasions my portion of the race included me running from Canada to the United States via the Detroit-Windsor tunnel. in 2020 a major life altering event happened to me, I became sick from covid-19. I was exposed to the virus from one of the patients while working in a nursing home. I have been severely ill before but experiencing covid is something that I would not wish on anyone. I went through a number of symptoms week 1: shortness of breath, fatigue, dry cough, malaise. Week 2 is when I came down with a fever. I was freezing and hot at the same time, it was one of the most frightening experiences I have been through and I have been in some distressing situations. My feet became crusty and I lost significant strength and ability in my gait, it became increasingly difficult for me to have a bowel movement and would sometimes take me 3 hours to find relief, I would rise in the morning vomiting and go to sleep vomiting. I was confined to my room, more specifically my bed all day and night, only getting up to use the bathroom. My body was so weak that brushing my teeth could take me 20 minutes from start to finish due to me having to take breaks walking to the bathroom, preparing my toothbrush, and brushing my teeth. I noticed that it became increasingly difficult for me to comprehend reading materials, now that really scared me. Any mental activity that required extended periods of focus and thought became very difficult. It also made me tired, my body was so weak that it would stall out if I overexerted myself, and by over exertion that means at that time getting dressed and walking down three flights of steps from my apartment to outside. My body would literally freeze, If I was walking I would not be able to walk another step unless I stood still for a minute or so and let my body rest. There is more to the story but I'll keep it short, I have improved in my gait and thinking slightly since 2020 but I still suffer through the symptoms and I am now disabled. I give praise to the living God for bringing me this far.” - COVID Long Hauler