Back in like December of 2019, this crazy sickness came about that originated in Wuhan, China. It grew and grew from country to country until it became a worldwide pandemic! It was easily transmitted from person to person by touching the same gas pump handle, breathing in someone’s air that had coughed 21 feet away from you, touching the same metal shopping cart or playground equipment that someone else who was infected had. It’s just crazy! Country after country started closing their boarders. Then here in the states, several states have closed their boarders, or at least anyone who lives outside of the state that was traveling through a different state was asked a series of questions upon entering the state. And their whereabouts were tracked via their cell phone. Hawaii closed at orders to anyone who is not a permanent resident o f Hawaii. It’s just been crazy! All non-essential places of business have been closed by a mandate by President Trump. State and national parks have been closed. Disneyland has been closed. Hair salons, shopping centers, malls, movie theaters etc. have all been closed. Since I work with the stock market and send people money on a daily basis, we have been open. Plus our office is small. There are only five of us in there. The national quarantine law is groups of 10 or less at all times. And you have to stay 6 feet apart from everyone. This virus is like pneumonia. To date 1,604,900 people have been infected. It has killed 95,738 people. Most of these deaths were in China and Italy.
Somehow my mom ended up getting it! I was helping to take care of her when she was sick not realizing that that is what she had. I would make her dinner and bring it down to her. Darren was ordering her groceries online and having them delivered. None of us ever thought in 1 million years that that was what she had. We thought she had bronchitis or that her asthma was acting up from it being allergy season. At her doctors urging, I took her to be tested for coronavirus on Friday, March 27, 2020. Got the results back that Monday, March 30. Imagine my shock and surprise when the doctor called to say that she was positive. I was sitting at my desk at work and I about pooped my pants. Jeff went and picked her up and drive her to the hospital. She was so sick! We met them outside in full hazmat suits and took her into a tent it off area that they had created outside of the hospital. Assessed her, and kept her completely quarantined an isolated from the remainder of the hospital until they could safely bring her in to have her admitted. She spent the next several days they’re trying to recover. They said she had suffered through the worst of it already. On her own. Poor lady! And all Jeff went and picked her up and drove her to the hospital. She was so sick! They met them outside in full hazmat suits and took her into a tented off area that they had created outside of the hospital. Assessed her, and kept her completely quarantined and isolated from the remainder of the hospital until they could safely bring her in to have her admitted. She spent the next several days there trying to recover. They said she had suffered through the worst of it already. On her own. Poor lady! And all the while I just thought she was being a baby! Poor thing was at deaths door! But she recovered and we got her home. Since I have been around her the most already, my brothers and I decided it would be best to keep the illness and possible spread of contagiousness to the smallest number possible. So I just continue to take care of her since I have done it all along. I would have to gown up, glove up and put on a mask several times a day when I would go there to help take care of her. But she’s doing so much better! Every day her energy levels get better and her breathing gets stronger. She was lucky enough to be one of the ones who received Hydroxychloroquine, otherwise known as the malaria drug. It’s like a miracle worker! I’m not sure why it works on this illness but it does end and it saved her life.
I've been thinking about how bummed I've been by not being able to have all sorts of guests over to my house for dinners or parties. I was SO sad to have to cancel my annual Easter Egg hunt with my neighbors and friends after 16 straight years of hosting it. I just told myself "next year".... I was sad when Jeff told me that our 25th wedding anniversary trip to Italy and then on to Prague was going to have to be cancelled, I just told myself again..."next year".... But then I got thinking about all the high school and college graduates who won't get a "next year". There won't be another chance for them to have Prom again or to compete in their spring sports "next year". All of these darling couples who had marriages coming up with big, elaborate celebrations with family and friends planned..... there won't be a next year for them either. They've had to have a simple, SMALL wedding with just their parents and the bishop or judge marrying them. And when I put these things into perspective, somehow my "next year" heartaches don't seem so bad.
Meanwhile in other news, we were able to get Sidney out of Sydney, Australia on one of THE last flight out of there before Australia closed at the borders. We were happy to get her home! We have spent our quarantine actually enjoying the simpler life. I’ve helped Cade with TONS of homeschooling but believe it or not I’ve actually enjoyed it. It’s been a great refresher on my Spanish helping him with his Spanish work. Molly is pretty good doing her homework on her own or she faced times her friends and they do it together. It’s kind of been nice having baseball, tumbling, school, church, and every other thing closed down. We can’t go out to eat so instead we cook together every day. We can’t go out to the movies so instead we watch DVD movies at home, color, do sidewalk chalk, puzzles, play games together, go fishing, kayaking and shooting. It’s actually been really nice! It’s been nice having sacrament and church lessons here in our home together. And it’s even been nice having all of the missionaries come home from all over the world. I never thought I would see this happen. When churches and temples were closed and all the missionaries were called home from all over the world. But it is happening and it is something else to experience!
President Russell Nelson has truly been inspired to introduce home and family centered church. Because of that, every member has access to the manuals either in their home or online to do church at home. It’s really been an easy transition. We had a fast two weeks ago and we’re doing them fast as a church worldwide tomorrow. So many other religions and celebrities have heard about our fast and are joining in. It’s been a really great publicity thing for our church as well. it’s nice to have people see us in a different light perhaps.
