“To those saying, ‘it’s just a virus,’ you may be able to fight it off with no issues if you were to contract it. But guess what? It’s not just about you! It’s about everyone.”
‘If I’m forced to self-isolate a majority of the time, you can for a few months!’: Young woman with chronic illness begs for social distancing, ‘Maybe we will become better humans when it’s over’
‘It can’t be bad, you’re young. You look fine.’ I questioned whether my symptoms were in my head.’: Single mom diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, ‘I don’t know what tomorrow has in store, but I’m ready to fight’
“I went from busy full days of work to barely handling the commute. I struggled to keep up with other moms my age. Misconceptions such as, ‘Young people can’t get it,’ and ‘You look totally healthy,’ infuriated me. It’s not just a disease for the elderly. I wasn’t fighting only for myself, but also my son.”
‘I was blindsided. ‘Mom, isn’t it crazy we’re all going to die?’ He couldn’t sleep. ‘Well, unless asthma gets me first.’: Mom encourages parents ‘assure your babies they are loved and safe’
“The last 7 years have been filled with loud nebulizers, wheezing, and medications. He knows about the Coronavirus but in no way any of the scary details. I never imagined he was just as worried.”
‘Did you think we were ‘lucky’ to stay in bed while you go to work? Reach out to us.’: Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva warrior says, ‘Check on the people you know who have to stay home for disabilities’
“How have you viewed their lifestyles? Are you already starting to get bored at home even though it hasn’t been that long yet? Think of those who were already isolated away from society, and those who will continue staying inside long after the pandemic ends.”
‘I watched friends celebrate, while I was robbed of living life. The Internet is a blessing and a curse.’: Woman with Cystic Fibrosis gives tips on how to survive quarantine, ‘The limits are endless’
“One issue a lot of people face is in their time of solitude, they may be confronted with the fact that being by yourself is frightening. Your mind needs to become comfortable being alone. There will be no distraction. Your inner-monologue will inevitably be louder and more present than it ever has before.”
‘I started sneaking into my local church after the ‘meet and greet’ portion. I’m the ‘high risk’ category you’ve been hearing about recently.’: Woman with Cystic Fibrosis shares tips ‘to help you get through’ the quarantine
“Soon after, I had to watch the online services every week. I’ve been practicing ‘social distancing’ since childhood. You can do it. It is in our control how we deal with it.”
‘My condition has no cure. Stopping treatment due to the coronavirus is not an option.’: Pityriasis lichenoides chronica patient details impact of pandemic, ‘I cannot stay home and self-contain’
“My nurse said, ‘I still have a packed schedule.’ I cannot stay home and self-contain.”
‘I’m not sick. Why should I stay at home?’ As a mom of 4 in her second trimester, I plead with you, wash your hands. My husband doesn’t want to raise our family alone.’: Mom of 4 diagnosed with lupus begs people to stay home
“As someone who has battled lupus for the past 16 years and remains on numerous immune-suppressing medications, I urge you to stay home. We know what it feels like to get sick because of someone else’s lack of concern or ignorance. My husband doesn’t want to raise our family alone.”
‘We’ve recently found ourselves trading boxes of face masks for bottles of Purell. We’re trying our best to plan ahead.’: Mom of micro-premie says ‘think of our family and others like us too’
“We do not take her out of the house. Her life depends on it. We are trying our best to plan ahead, but as stores quickly lose stock and people hoard items to resell at an upcharge, we have begun to scramble. She is immunocompromised.”
‘This surgery is unlike the other 35. Do you understand we don’t know the effects?’ With a shaky hand, I signed my name on the black line.’: Woman with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome undergoes life-altering surgery
“‘I’m ‘chickening out. I can’t do it.’ My dad was holding the door open when I took ONE step and froze. Something shifted in my back like it never had. I had some ‘colorful language’ and said, ‘Let’s go.’ Tears in my eyes, I signed my name on the black line. 8 hours later, I woke up screaming. ‘I can’t do this! Ow! The pain! Ow! PUT ME IN A COMA! I CAN’T DO THIS!’ The meds weren’t working. My mom was rushed in.”
