We are starting a new series of articles about the people that live or work in this area and how the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has affected their job and/or family, what they would do different when we get back to a “new normal” and what has surprised them about the unprecedented global crisis.
1. How has this affected my family? This has affected our family in many positive and challenging ways. The challenges are that everyone is working and learning from home. Having a child with a disability that is not able to work independently makes balancing parent/work life very challenging. Another challenge our family faced was moving an elderly parent into our home. She has some medical issues and changes in routine are very difficulty. However, we believed that her health was more important than the disruption to routine. My mother lives with my sister who is also a nurse. My sister is on the front line and at higher risk for contacting COVID so the decision was made by our family to move my mother in with us. Such a blessing that we can support each other, but a challenge none the less.
Our blessing far outweigh the above mentioned challenges. We have an amazing school district who is doing everything to support their students, families, staff, and community. We are starting to get into a new routine with elearning and settling in. (Now, I need to figure out the work part….we’ll get there). We also have amazing families in this community who are checking in on each other. Seeing families step up and safely reach out reminds me that we have an awesome community. My family has all that they need and I love my Western Reserve Grace Church family for checking in on each other, both emotionally and physically.
My family has all that they need and I love my Western Reserve Grace Church family for checking in on each other, both emotionally and physically
2. What would we change? I’ve always been a person who tried to understand that people may be fighting battles we know nothing about so we need to remember that in our interactions. Be kind and patient. I feel that this is even more true, however, we now all have a similar lived experience together so I hope that I will do even better remembering this.
3. I’m surprised at the depth of this illness. Trying to understand the magnitude of the challenge to our amazing health care system is just mind blowing. I know as of April 1, we haven’t yet seen the worst of this illness. I so appreciate our Governor and civic leaders in this situation. I’ll do everything I can to stay in and limit contact to help that system do their job for families who are going to experience this illness.
If you would like to submit your experiences with the coronavirus, send via email to juliedaloiso@gmail.com.