“I’m sitting here this afternoon, watching my youngest daughter, who has diminished kidney function, do her home-school work. She’s trying to catch up because she’s missed a couple weeks of her home-school group due to picking up every illness so generously passed around this sick season.
While she’s doing that, my older daughter is practicing her dance routines. I’m listening to ensure her asthma is not flaring during exercise, as it often does.
My husband is home from work today, and I’m watching him intently as well. He provides 85% of our household income. If he gets sick, it can put us behind significantly with our finances.
While all of this is on my mind, the thing weighing heaviest on me right now, is my father who is disabled and has lung issues. I’ve already lost one parent, and I would be lying if I said I was not concerned Covid-19/Coronavirus might take the other.
Not to mention, I have multiple autoimmune diseases that put me in a different risk category than someone who is in perfect health. I am not thinking the worst in every moment, but I am absolutely trying to be prepared for it.
While I try not to be an alarmist, I am truly concerned. As I watch entire countries shut down, and thousands of people die, I have decided to prepare. Between my family living here, and our animals, we have 21 heartbeats to worry about and try to keep healthy. We have weathered many bouts of flu and done so well because we have some immunity to it. This is new and unknown, so it presents different challenges. Our medical community isn’t even prepared for it, so I’m doing my best to ensure I am here at home. How exactly am I doing that?
I bought about one months’ worth of pantry goods. Rice, beans, canned vegetables, and easy microwavable meals. Much of this we don’t even eat on a regular basis in our home, but it is meant to last and will be there if we need it. I also packed both of my freezers full of meats and frozen vegetables. I am making extra each time I make a soup or stew, and freezing those as well, in the event I am unable to cook.
I purchased natural remedies my family relies on. We are not against western medicine in any way, and are truly grateful for the science that goes into it, as it has greatly helped us many times. But we do always try to exhaust natural options first. I have vitamin C, zinc, elderberry syrup, and other immune boosters that we are taking daily. I also added colloidal silver to our medicine cabinet, to be used as a natural immune booster if needed.
I purchased a couple masks, mostly in case we have to take my father out, as he needs to be protected. I bought a few cases of water and toilet paper. (No, I’m not the one buying it all. I’m all about everything in moderation.) I also stocked up on hygiene items and cleaning products.
For our animals, I purchased some vitamins, electrolyte solutions, and general health items. I made sure to have some extra food on hand as well. Stocking up, for me, was more in case we can’t get to the store. I have a lot of people and animals depending on me to be able to have what they need, and I don’t want to let them down.
Most of all, I want to ensure I stay healthy enough to care for them should the worst happen. While I hope with every breath in my lungs I am overly prepared, I am watching this unfold in such a way I don’t think I am. With more than half of my household members falling into one of the higher risk categories for this, it would feel irresponsible of me to not take it seriously and be ready.
While we have not stopped living our lives, we are scrutinizing the information provided to us through the media and directly from scientists, in order to make informed decisions for our family. To each their own, truly. But lets all be responsible about this.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by a woman who wishes to remain anonymous. You can follow her journey on her blog here. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories.
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