Items

• 2021-04

  Regret for a Trip Not Taken

  This story is about travel that did not happen, but should have during the Covid-19 Pandemic. In mid-2020, my little sister Sarah was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She was married and had 3 children up in Seattle. When my family heard the news, travel was severely restricted and many people were still dying daily from the virus. I have my own wife and kids, so we all agreed that it wasn’t a good risk to go and visit. Besides, we reasoned, she hadn’t started treatment yet and she had good chances of beating cancer. So we waited it out. My sister and I talked frequently, and she told me that she was optimistic about her cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, our Dad died in January of 2021 due to complications related to Covid (he had Parkinson’s also), and neither of us could travel to do any funeral service. In April of 2021, the pandemic had cleared up enough that most travel restrictions had ended, everyone was vaccinated, and the risk was lower. My older brother Sean had planned a trip to go to Seattle and stay there for a month to visit, help take care of kids and just be there. He urged me to go, at least for a week or so because he told me that he thought it wasn’t going as well with her treatments as Sarah had led me to believe. Because of Covid patients overwhelming hospitals, I don’t think she was getting as much good-quality medical care as she needed, though that’s my opinion. Anyway, I didn’t want to go on this trip. I don’t particularly handle death and dying well, and I didn’t want to go there and be basically sad and crying the whole time, and I was in denial about her health, so I didn’t go. A few months later, in June 2021, Sarah succumbed to cancer and died. If I could go back in time to do it over again, I definitely would have gone. I would have liked to walk around Seattle with her and take pictures to put on Facebook, our primary means of sharing memories, or take her kids out for a few hours to sight see and get to know them better. I regret, and always will, that I did not go and see her and her family there at the end.
• 
  12/08/2021

  Jill Smith Oral History, 2021/12/08

  Dr. Jill Smith is a retired professor from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, she currently lives in Menominee Wisconsin. In the interview, she talks about how Covid-19 has affected her family and her work within her community. As she started the pandemic as a caregiver for her husband who unfortunately passed in January. When she talks about her job as a contact tracer for Dun County and how that has shaped her life. While she also volunteers at Steeping Stones and interacts with her community. Commenting on the political side of how her community adapted to the pandemic. Concluding with her perspective on how the future may look with the new Omicron variant.
• 2020-07-13

  The Last Man on Earth

  I run almost every day. During the summer of 2020, I was undergoing prostate salvage radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is sometimes proscribed after one has their prostate removed. I ran no less during the prostate radiation therapy. I've always eaten healthy food. Still, I drank water more regularly during radiation therapy. Driving from my home to the Anderson Cancer Center was an enjoyable experience, mostly because the freeway was so deserted–there were almost no cars on the road. I live in uptown San Diego, so my long runs take me through downtown San Diego. Before each run, I spend a few minutes practicing martial arts. I imagine the neighbors watching me thought I was having some kind of fit. After warming up with martial arts, I start my run. The first place my run takes me is through the Hillcrest community, usually a place with the lively hustle and bustle of people moving about, but on this day, Hillcrest was deserted. Most restaurants were closed, and a few people were milling about–Hillcrest was a ghost town. It reminded me of the town portrayed in the 1973 film High Plains Drifter. Folks were hiding, hiding from COVID by hiding from each other. From Hillcrest, my run took me through downtown San Diego where the streets were equally deserted. The deserted streets reminded me of running through another movie, the 1964 film, The Last Man on Earth. I imagined inhuman monsters were preparing to spread COVID that would spring into action without warning. Of course, all this fantasizing made my daily run even more fun and pleasurable. I could let my imagination wander momentarily, then return to the peaceful meditation of running through deserted streets. The COVID protocols made possible the escape from the COVID reality itself. I'm convinced the long runs played a vital role in mitigating the effects of radiation therapy.
• 
  2022-12-17

  Been through it all

  I got married on April 4, 2020. We had planned 125 guests. I was so excited to celebrate with everyone. I remember hearing about covid in China in February and thinking that it was so far away I shouldn't worry. While my daughter was on Spring break everything started shutting down. At first it seemed temporary. Like it would just be a week or two. Just until things died down. Then local governments started getting strict as it became apparent how dangerous covid was. As the rules changed, I had to send apologetic emails disinviting guests due to limits on gatherings. We went from 125 to 100. Then it went to 75, 50, and 25. Each time it was agonizing figuring out who would be cut from our wedding. Finally it came down to just our parents, the pastor and his family, and the photographer. I got my wedding dress back from alterations the day the shop closed down to the public. We had the wedding in my parents' backyard. The pastor's children played guitar and sang. Our honeymoon was canceled a few days before the wedding because the small county in the mountains wasn't letting anyone in who wasn't local. We had a staycation for a honeymoon and played video games together.  We are a blended family. I often tell people we got married at the beginning of the pandemic. It was like "Congratulations on your new sister! You'll be with her 24/7 and never get away from her!" They quickly became sisters. They were each other's only playmate. At the same time they irritated each other just like normal siblings. It bonded them as sisters. It was hard for us when my step-daughter started kindergarten in the fall and my daughter started 2nd grade. We had alarms going off all day to try to manage their classroom google calls while my husband and I attempted to work from home. It was very stressful.  My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2020. At times they refused to allow my dad to accompany her to appointments. She was found crying in a hallway unable to get to the correct room. It was awful. I had to be so careful as my kids started hybrid school to not get her sick. It was hard to balance my kids' need for some stability and trying to be with my mom as much as possible. We made the decision to try for another child so my mom had the best chance at meeting her grandchild. I got to share my positive pregnancy test while visiting. It was such a happy moment in the midst of so much sadness. Adding to that stress was a difficult custody battle over my daughter. We couldn't have extra people at court to support me. My husband had to leave early to get the kids from school. Being left at the courthouse after testifying about how my ex abused me was one of the loneliest moments of my life. I had to take a Lyft ride back home and try not to break down in a stanger's car. My mother's condition got worse quickly. We were able to have a family reunion in June. I was nervous about so many people traveling in, but we needed to have mom see family again before something happened. My mom was admitted to the hospital at the beginning of July. I couldn't visit her because of being pregnant and the risk was too high to go to a hospital. My mom and dad supported this and wanted me to keep the baby safe. I had to record a goodbye message to play for her when she was awake. My mom passed on July 5th, 2021. Even at the funeral, I stayed in a separate room and had a friend read the eulogy remarks I prepared.  I had my youngest daughter in February 2022. We were limited on visitors, so only my husband and dad came to the hospital. So many day cares closed in the pandemic, we had a very difficult time finding child care. Despite getting on the list in early pregnancy, we couldn't start at day care until September. We had to use social media to find part time nannies and alter our work hours to cover child care until she could start day care. She actually just tested positive for covid yesterday after another child at daycare was positive earlier in the week. Thankfully she's vaccinated.  I've been through so much since the pandemic. I'm thankful for what I have, I crave rest. I'm worn out. I lost so much. No bridal shower. No honeymoon. No baby shower. No support for happy and sad moments. It's been really hard.
• 2020

  A year of recovery

  Our adult son died of cancer at the end of 2018. We were devastated. Our lives were disrupted and upended, while everyone else went on as if everything was normal. Anyone who has lost a family member or friend knows what this is like. Way too many people found out in 2020 what that is like. In 2020, other people were inconvenienced. A lot. I’ll acknowledge that it was tough on everyone, but it’s nothing compared to losing a loved one. When we realized that the pandemic disruption really didn’t faze us, we realized that we were going to be OK. We had faced the unbearable; this was trivial by comparison. So was losing my job. We were privileged that 2020 and 2021 gave us a chance to reset, to recharge, to reboot. To make ends meet, I now work and live on another continent, away from my wife. It’s incredibly difficult. We’ve dealt with worse situations. We’ll be OK.
• 
  2020-12-25

  New Traditions

  The pandemic marked a turning point for my family. A few weeks before the March 2020 lockdown, my grandmother was hospitalized then placed in her final nursing home. Although my family knew the Alzheimers and cancer were progressing, we never expected a pandemic to make letting go even more difficult. Shortly after her arrival in the nursing home, the building closed down for all outside visitors. For the entire summer of 2020, my family and I had to watch grandma through a screened window. By the time we were finally able to go inside the nursing home to touch her again, it was only because her time was coming to an end. By then, my grandmother only recognized my grandfather, the rest of us were strangers. My grandmother was in many ways the glue of our family. To lose her at a time when we could not see each other in person at holidays was extra difficult, but we adapted and even started new traditions. As a Polish family, we always have pierogi and fish on Christmas Eve and we usually purchased our pierogi from local churches that handmade the delicious dumplings every year. However with the pandemic, most churches did not sell pierogi in 2020 to protect their older community members who made the pierogi. Therefore, we decided to attempt for our first time to make our own pierogi from scratch. Admittedly, the pierogi we made in 2020 were not the best (and we made over 300 of them!), but we did not give up. In December 2021, our families could once again gather in person – our first Christmas together without grandma. We made our own pierogi, and this time my cousins were able to join and help. Not only did the pierogi turn out much better in 2021, but a new tradition became cemented. Although the pandemic provided many hardships, I can't help but be thankful for the two years of stillness and uncertainty it provided. The pandemic allowed me to return to my hometown, reconnect with my family, and start a new chapter in my family's history. I think my grandma would be really proud of our new tradition.
• 
  05/09/2021

  Galina Pozharsky Oral History, 2021/04/21

  Galina Pozharsky is a Russian immigrant who has been living in Eau Claire for the past 10 years. We discussed her views on why she believes Covid-19 is not that big of a deal and why she believes the pandemic is at least partially politically motivated.
• 
  05/06/2021

  Liz Haynes, Oral History, 2021/04/21

  Liz Haynes discusses her life pre-COVID and how she has been affected during COVID as a cancer survivor. She talks about her love of travel and hopefully future plans, politics (local and federal), and ends with positive outlook for the future.
• 
  2021-10-26

  Do We Even Matter?

  This poem talks about the failure of our medical field when it came to covid. They focused more on those with Covid than those who were struggling with cancer. My grandfather became one of those victims.
• 
  2020-12-25

  Covid Family Holidays

  This picture was taken on Christmas Day of 2020. Due to my cancer diagnosis, a weak immune system, and the need or me to socially isolate Christmas gifts were delivered by the matriarch of my family, my mother. Adjusting family holiday traditions has been another consequence of Covid.
• 
  2020

  The Importance of Family During Covid-19

  Throughout the pandemic, my parents tried to navigate the line between being flexible yet cautious. They did their best to keep my siblings and I safe while also trying to understand and accommodate our needs as young adults to connect with our peers. It was important that they balanced the health and well-being of not only our immediate family but our extended family as well. For as long as I can remember, my family has spent every holiday, birthday, and any other major or minor event with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. My family, as well as my dad’s side of the family, are all local to Pittsburgh, so I have been lucky enough to grow up with them. My dad is one of five and all together there is fourteen of us grandchildren. In January of 2020, right before covid had started, our grandmother passed away from pancreatic cancer. This was a very hard time for my family as we were all incredibly close to her. However, as I look back, I am almost grateful that she is at peace and did not have to experience the crazy covid world in which we are currently living in. My uncle also had pancreatic cancer and had been living with it since his diagnosis in 2012. Our family did everything we could to get him the best treatment and keep him as healthy as possible. Covid made it extremely difficult to be with my family and it was something that I was not used to as I spend much of my time with them. However, our uncle was always our number one thought through it all as he was very at risk due to his underlying health conditions. Months and months went by without seeing my family and we had to continue to cancel get togethers due to my family members health concerns. Not seeing my family frequently was a struggle as I felt disconnected from them and events happening in their lives. My uncle began to fall very ill in September of 2020 and I felt that I was unaware of the extent of his illness. The disconnect and miscommunication from quarantine and covid made it very difficult to get through his time of sickness. Unfortunately, my uncle had passed away shortly after falling ill. It was difficult to think of all of the time we as a family could’ve spent together over the course of the pandemic and all of the memories we could have been making with our uncle before he passed. The pandemic had negatively affected many aspects of life in general but losing a loved one in addition is indescribable. As horrible as the pandemic has been, it has taught me many important lessons in life. I have always loved and appreciated my family but the events that occurred during the pandemic had only brought me closer to them and made us stronger in the end.
• 
  2021-04-11

  Cancer diagnosis rates go down!

  I know I have presented a pretty eye catching and exciting title, but the fact of the matter is, they aren't going down. The amount of people who have cancer has not plummeted, as the title suggests. Rather, the statistics have gone down. As the article states, "new findings offer grim evidence of the consequences of delayed care: A rise in undetected cancers that, when eventually diagnosed, may be more advanced and difficult to treat." I think this is a great reminder that statistics are not the people they represent, and many things effect the numbers. This is relevant to my research on the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 
  2021-04-04

  Putting off Medical Appointments for fear of COVID

  I myself did not see a doctor or make any appointments until August of 2020, roughly 5 months into the pandemic. I attended my well woman’s exam, something I get yearly. The article I have added here was written by a doctor. He talks about in the beginning of the pandemic, it was critical to only see the patients that needed to be seen, as there was still so much unknown. He goes on to talk about how the risks from postponing exams outweigh the risk of catching COVID-19. This is a big part of my research, the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. "A woman is more likely to die from an advanced-stage breast cancer than she is from COVID-19," said Therese Bevers, a medical director at a MD Anderson Cancer Center. The doctor who wrote the article said he consulted with other doctors to create a list of appointments you should stop putting off. These are: cancer screenings, checkups for “new red-flag symptoms,” follow ups for chronic diseases, mental health management, and sexual health management. It is clear that these issues are important for human health upkeep, and they shouldn’t be avoided due to COVID-19 anymore. We have yet to see just how many health issues have been ignored during this pandemic.
• 
  2020-09-22

  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Passed Away

  Last Friday, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court, passed away. During her tenure on the bench, she overcame multiple bouts with cancer and other health emergencies. Through it all, she never wavered in her commitment to the court as a vehicle for a more just and more equal America.
• 2021-03-06

  This is not how this is supposed to go.

  Friday, March 13, 2020, was my last full day in the office before the shutdown. We came home that night not knowing what was next. Then my sister called. Things hadn't been right for a couple of weeks, she said, and when she had been to the doctor that morning he ordered her directly to the MRI lab. And there it was. Cancer. The exact same kind that had taken our mother a few years ago. And our grandmother several decades ago. Dammit. So what do you do? You get on a plane, you go there tomorrow, and you face this thing together, as family, right? Except no. It's COVID time, and only one person was even allowed to accompany her to the hospital for surgery three days later. We all decided that my other sister should be there, since she has medical expertise and also a more flexible schedule. But yeah. Here I am, on the other side of the country, not knowing whether my sister would live through the day and not able to go be with her. It's a year later, and I'm very relieved to say that she's still with us, lasting far longer with this diagnosis than either our mother or grandmother did. Still very much in the fight. But thanks to this damned disease, and to everyone whose stupidity has caused it to last longer and be worse than it had any need to be, I have seen her exactly once in the last year. For about ten minutes. Right before her second surgery. Will I get to see her again? Who knows? We have a trip planned in a few months, if things get better with this pandemic. And if she lasts that long. It's sad and exhausting and infuriating and unchangeable.
• 
  2020-05-11

  Covid Threat

  My dad was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2019 and it came as a shock to all off us. He started chemotherapy in February of 2020, and a as a result of his treatment his immune system was becoming weak. My dad continued to get better but the issue became about his immune system and covid. Covid-19 became a big issue for the United States in March so my family was very worried about getting sick for my dad since his immune system was getting weaker. As a result of this, my family and I did not go out and see other people CDC guidelines would be violated. This meant none of my siblings and I could ever truly hangout with our friends over the entire summer and Christmas break. Some people were violating Covid restrictions and stay at home orders, however, we could not because my family and I could not take the risk of getting my dad sick. While our friends were all hanging out we could not go because the risk wasn't worth the potential outcome of getting our dad sick. Even after some of the covid restrictions got lifted towards the end of 2020 I could still not go out because my dad could not get sick. This picture represents what me and my family would do since we could not hang out with our friends or extended family. We would play board games and would do trivia with our extended family. This was not ideal for me and my siblings because we wanted to hang out with our friends, but we knew we could not. Many families endured this over the course of this pandemic. Even just seeing your grandparents was hard to do because they are old and cannot get sick with covid. Many families including mine sacrificed seeing their other family because it was too big of a risk to see them and potentially get covid. This picture is an important representation of my covid experience because it brought me and my family closer together during a hard time. We spent a lot more time playing games and just hanging out with each other over the several months we were home from school.
• 2021-01-25

  covid 19

  ive never really taken the time to look at the stats of Covid 19. In reality i think i was too scared to come. face to face with the facts. now that i look at it i have to realize that theres nothing i can do. the 99 million cases. i cant solve all of them. but i can do my part in helping stop spreading it by wearing a mask and social distancing. i also never took the time to realize how much covid actually affected me and my life. back when covid was first starting out i had a friend get it. she's fine now. but with the 2.13 million deaths, she is very fortunate to not have died. i do my best to stay safe. especially because of my mom. my mom had cancer back in 2018, so her immune system isn't as strong as others and she is more likely to get it.
• 
  2020-01

  Doggy Love for Patient!

  The photo shows me and my dog while I was in the hospital doing chemotherapy for Testicular Cancer. By that point, I had been in the hospital for three weeks and we had got a prescription for me to be able to bring my dogs in order to cheer me up. My husband brought me our dogs Little Man (Miniature Dauschuand) and Lady (Whippet Terrier Mix). I was so happy to see them that I cried. The fur babies were so happy to see me that they just jumped on me and began licking me. This shows how lonely the covid-19 had made me and how the doctors were able to allow my furbabies to come to visit me which cheered me up.
• 2020-02-01

  Who or what caused Covid 19

  I used to think Covid 19 was just another illness like the flu but just until recently I believe that it was made in a Lab. The reason I believe Covid 19 was started in a lab was because that soon after China had got the viruses they knew everything about it. They went straight into lock down and their cases went down fast. I also think it was made in a lab because of how fast we found a cure. We still haven't found a cure for cancer after about like 5000 years but we were able to get a cure for Covid after about a year which seems a little suspicious to me. That what I think cause or made Covid 19.
• 
  2020-09-21

  Loss in a COVID World

  I believe this is a point of interest to talk about, since it’s likely that many will wonder, out of innocent curiosity, what it’s like to lose someone in a time of crisis. I should describe it as transcendental. May your soul be touched. My beloved mother didn’t die from COVID-19. She had been unknowingly battling cancer for several years, and had it diagnosed at its most lethal stage. I still shake my hands at the doctors who had ignored her concerns for all this time, because maybe she would still have been here if it weren’t for them. But how would that affect me? Would things remain the same at home? I have to say, I shudder at this thought, too. Colon cancer, which metastasized in the liver. She passed from liver failure in the later part of this year, 2020. I, the foolish child, was so preoccupied that I couldn’t understand why my uncle woke me at 4 am in the morning that day. With a classic sleepy rub of the eye, I told him, “I have a math test today.” And if it hadn’t been for the pain in his eyes, I wouldn’t have gotten up at all. There she was, lying eerily still in her bed, but she was also gone. As the people around me sobbed and turned away, all I could do was stand and stare. It felt like something was out of place. I felt out of place. If you could try to imagine it, remain perfectly still as you are and think of yourself exiting your body. Look around you without looking. That’s how it felt, everything slightly blurry by the darkness, lightness in my feet as if I were floating, a static, metal taste in my mouth, the sounds of sobbing flooding my ears, I couldn't handle it. I started to cry, and buried myself in the crook of my brother’s chest for support. To be in the unknown, and lose what you have, is the most frightening experience I wish for nobody else to have gone through. The pain is truly insufferable… but the healing process counts for so much of who I define myself as now, that I couldn’t imagine the year going any other way. The funeral was held the following sunday. It too was such a different experience. We took many long, empty roads to reach the cemetery. Seeing few cars on the road is commonplace for such a road, but to see none at all was creepy. I relinquished my thoughts to sleep. Upon our arrival, I put my mask on and stood before 50 some odd people who had come to see my mother off. That’s right, I thought comfortably, Mom was very well loved. The notion was reassuring. We exchanged hugs and hellos and sorrys, all the usual pleasantries you would expect at an event not so pleasant, and made our way to the casket for the gathering to take place. I’ll leave the eulogy I wrote here, in case you were curious and thought, I wonder what this stranger said at their mother’s funeral, because this is expected when you are here to read about losing a loved one. Finally, when all was said and done, condolences were given again. This time, though, I hardly recognized anyone. It must’ve been the masks that obstructed our faces, because I saw the attendees, and they saw me, but it was still so unfamiliar. The later part of that day I spent confused. I suppose that’s how we start when we learn to adjust, which I did. Presently I am still healing, but it’s not so bittersweet when I think of her, moreso sweet than bitter. The metal taste in my mouth begins to wear off, and I am feeling free. I hope she also feels free. And I hope this provided the insight you were looking for when you came across this page. We all love and lose in the end. Focus your energy towards healing, and you will learn to grow with the changes.
• 
  2020-02-06

  Hospital Sensory Experience

  This experience of the Covid-19 pandemic is probably very different than most people. My picture submitted of myself shows a selfie that I took while in the hospital dealing with a non-Covid-19 hospitalization. As you will see through reading this I was on sensory overload. My experience with taste when it comes to my hospitalization was not one of joy, but one of provisional change due to introduction of various new medical regiments which made things tasting like metal along with various other side effects. The over powering aroma of alcohol wipes and various chemicals burned my nostrils causing my eyes to water with irritation and redness. Desiring the touch of a loved ones other then the nurses pin pricks and the doctors jabs however, due to Covid restrictions my only comfort was my husband. With the on going treatments of chemotherapy I had caused numbness in my toes and fingers which felt like knives. I am a 35 year old man who is diagnosed with stage Three-B Testicular Cancer who was healthy one minute and who's world was turned upside down the next moment. So, my Covid-19 experience has been that of Chemotherapy, isolationism, crying, hospital smells, changing of all of my sensory parts of my body, and more. This is important to me because it has changed my life, Covid-19 experience, work-life, and many other areas.
• 
  2020-10-12

  Covid-19 Collateral Death

  April 10, 2020 started as another routine day, but by 7:30pm, my life would be irrevocably changed. My husband of 25 years, Larry, had been diagnosed with advanced stage laryngeal cancer on March 25th requiring surgery; needless to say, we were both quite concerned, scared and anxious. The procedure involved removal of all lymph nodes in his neck as well as his voice box - open airway surgery. We were told by the team at Mayo that once the surgery was completed, it would be a complete recovery...he'd be fine; great news! We hugged each other, and assured ourselves that he will get through this. We hoped that the hospital would be able to move quickly to get it scheduled. Our hopes were fulfilled; surgery was scheduled for April 1st. As we were proceeding with pre-surgery registration, the conversation was interrupted; we were then told that due to Covid-19, all open airway surgical procedures were cancelled. Our elation that Mayo had expedited his surgery was annihilated. A Zoom consultation with his Oncologist on April 3rd let us know that the team was discussing the best course of action; he would follow up shortly with the decision. On April 7th, another Zoom consultation occurred in which his Oncologist described an aggressive treatment plan starting with chemotherapy starting April 16th with radiation treatment to commence once the 3 courses of chemo was completed. He reassured us that as soon as the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, the surgical procedure would proceed. Larry felt positive about the treatment plan; he had been at my side throughout my successful cancer treatment six years previously. The news was jarring, but we both felt confident. As I opened, Friday April 10th started as a routine day. Larry spending the day in his office at an accounting practice that he had nurtured and grown for 20 years. I dedicated Friday's to standard household chores: laundry, grocery shopping, etc. The evening was quiet, dinner was finished and I was watching the evening news program. Larry walked by me to go outside, sit, smoke and think through an issue he mentioned with a client. Several minutes later, he opened the door and his shirt was covered in blood. He looked dazed, walked to the sofa and sat down. Panicking, I called 9-1-1 then sat next to him to help; he leaned against me. Medics arrived at the house in three minutes, performed CPR five times...he had passed within the minutes between when I called and they arrived. News coverage of Covid-19 deaths focus on those unfortunate who die due to this virus; what the news does not record, nor will it be part of the statistics of this pandemic, are those deaths such as Larry's which could have been prevented. The life we had shared for 25 years and were planning going forward no longer exists. I have wonderful memories of a wonderful man, my best friend; what I don't have is that physical person.
• 
  06/01/2020

  COVID-19 Has No Boundaries for Those That Mourn

  February 2020, Covid-19 was a drop in the bucket, it’s coming to the U.S. from China. What is it? Where did it come from? How will it reach us? Do we close our boarders? Stop international travel? Who is to blame? The first of the infected to arrive, from China, landed at Kelly Field San Antonio TX, and were set into quarantine. Fast forward about a month (end of March), and I am picking my dad up from BAMC (Brook Army Medical Center), he had been dropped off by his wife, and she was not allowed to stay at the hospital. He was seen at the ER because of stomach pain and continuous vomiting. What was different and a little strange to me was the fact that the hospital would not allow his wife to enter the building, even if she was the only means of his being. Because of strict city, state, and national orders to covid-19, no one other that the patient was allowed to enter the hospital. After two months of going in and out of the hospital, military doctors had discovered a cancerous tumor growing in his liver, it was putting pressure against his bile duct not allowing his liver to function properly. An emergency procedure was scheduled, but without notice, it was cancelled before he was operated on. A second procedure (Y90) was scheduled, but part 1 of a two-part procedure failed and three days later we said goodbye to Art Reyes Sr. Planning for his services were difficult. We could only invite 10 people to the church and 20 people to the funeral home, but after gathering information about my dad’s services, my heart went out to those that had lost family and friends due to the Covid virus. Their services were completely canceled. If a person had died in a hospital of Covid-19, they were to be transported from the hospital, cremated, and buried without any type of service Had it not been for Covid-19, I think that Art Reyes would have had the rapid medical attention that he deserved. Doctors would have been “on the spot” in treating him for his condition, and not meeting just once a month to discuss someone’s condition with cancer. Many times, I felt that he was dismissed because of the covid-rules in place, but there also did not have to be poor/no communication between family and doctors. Funeral services would have been normal for more than 20 people to celebrate his death, and many family members that could not travel from out of town, could have celebrates with us also. The bottom line was his cancer inevitably was the cause for his death, but it wasn’t immediate. His death was due to his failing organs that were secondary to the tumor growth, and medical doctors on a “Corona19 Vacation.”
• 
  2020-10-07

  The Fight To Stay Healthy

  This pandemic we are living in is like being in a black whole of the unknown. In some places people are acting as if it doesn’t really exist or that it doesn’t affect them. The truth is, it may not be affecting them right now, but it very well could be. The truth is, we know nothing. This period of time in our history is a different experience for everyone and people do not have any clue about what is to come. My experience of this time has been chaotic and an ongoing feeling of paranoia. My brother and I are both high risk for COVID-19. I have In 2013 at 2 years old he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; he is a childhood cancer survivor and is now 10 years old but will continue to need to be cautious and always aware of his health. The picture I have provided with this entry is one from a few months after his diagnosis. This is the picture that remain in mine and my family’s heads; our motivation to continue to be hyperaware of our daily routines and who we encounter. I am asthmatic and have continued to have a weak immune system and suffer from respiratory illnesses. Protecting ourselves, our family, and those around us is the highest priority during this time. We are taking precautions and rules from the CDC very seriously. This has been a season of fear, loss, and uncertainty, but it has also been a season of faith, curiosity, and new beginnings. I have also had some family friends and family members lose their jobs during this time. COVID-19 has not just affected people’s health but the livelihood of the normal we once knew. Moving forward people will either embrace that or fight against it. Even while embracing it my family and I will continue to be cautious with our interactions, where we go, who we see, and be empathetic tot those who have lost their lives and their loved ones.
• 2020-06-08

  Life during Covid 19

  During this pandemic my life personally has taken a turn, with my mother being ill with a chronic disease ovarian cancer It was and still very difficult to get through it. I have to be extra careful with going out to places since my mother is a high risk patient. This leaves me with minimal social life which can be depressing because in times like this your friends and close family is your biggest support. This pandemic have impacted many lives, New York a city where there is always a rush and hustle was dimmed down when this pandemic hit which can take a emotional toll on an individual, personally for me since i am an outgoing person It was a difficult adjustment. Furthermore, At some point the same old routine of working remotely and online school can get to you. This pandemic has caused my classes to be fully online which can sometimes be challenging in terms of time management and keeping up with all the work load. Commute has also been rough during this pandemic people are afraid to take the subways making commuting from work an added stress, Overall this pandemic has been a life changing event for many people and I am hoping we soon return to normalcy.
• 
  2020-06-08

  Life During Covid 19

  During this pandemic my life personally has taken a turn, with my mother being ill with a chronic disease ovarian cancer It was and still very difficult to get through it. I have to be extra careful with going out to places since my mother is a high risk patient. This leaves me with minimal social life which can be depressing because in times like this your friends and close family is your biggest support. This pandemic have impacted many lives, New York a city where there is always a rush and hustle was dimmed down when this pandemic hit which can take a emotional toll on an individual, personally for me since i am an outgoing person It was a difficult adjustment. Furthermore, At some point the same old routine of working remotely and online school can get to you. This pandemic has caused my classes to be fully online which can sometimes be challenging in terms of time management and keeping up with all the work load. Commute has also been rough during this pandemic people are afraid to take the subways making commuting from work an added stress, Overall this pandemic has been a life changing event for many people and I am hoping we soon return to normalcy.
• 0020-06-03

  Cancer during COVID

  During the covid 19 pandemic I had a rather unique and tragic experience with one of the world’s best and most prestigious health care facilities. My grandmother who was seventy four was diagnosed with acute cancer on Christmas Eve last year. As she was told there was a high chance of survival because she caught it very early we all were obviously devastated and heart broken. But we continued on and supported her as a family, the whole way through her treatment. However I can remember going back to school after that christmas break and we followed COVID from the very beginning in my world events class. But what was so ironic is that me and everyone in the class had seen what this did to China and not one of us could have ever imagined it turning into having to wear a face mask everywhere you go and no sports for months. Yet it invaded the U.S. like a wood trojan horse once did with the city of Troy, as COVID put the world into an instant frenzy shutting everything down left and right. I recall me and many of my friends begging our parents to go to the grocery store everytime something ran out even if it was as simple as a stick of butter just so we could get out of the house for a few minutes. However as COVID spread my grandmother’s cancer actually was able to be neutralized and went into remission around may of this year. As I look back upon the last time I saw her in person it was definitely an odd goodbye as I stood about ten feet from her and had a normal conversation with her and my grandfather, each word was half understood as it mumbled through our face masks. Then just like that they were on their way back to Johns Hopkins in very high spirits as the doctors had told us that she needed a final surgery and she would hopefully beat it completely. However due to COVID this surgery had to wait until a time when non emergency surgeries could be done, so it was scheduled for late june. But when someone who has cancer gets a simple illness like pneumonia, their immune system cannot fight it. She was in the hospital for about a week and fluid buildup around her heart caused her to lose her life on june 3. However my final memory of her is me and my family standing on the street outside the hospital, me in my cap and gown and each of us holding encouraging signs. We each spoke to her through the phone as she looked down upon us from the tenth floor and waved to us. Luckily my grandfather was admitted to stay with her that night and the next morning she took her last breath. Yet COVID continued to strike as the funeral could only have 25 people in the room at a time.
• 2020-08-10

  Finding Out My Grandfather Has Terminal Cancer in the COVID-19 Pandemic

  In the midst of an already chaotic season, my family and I received news that my grandfather has colon cancer. It started with the doctors first finding multiple masses on his colon as well as his liver. As time passed, multiple tests, scans, etc. were done and the results came back as cancerous. When we got the phone call that it was incurable, all I wanted to do was drop everything and go see him but then I remembered.. We are in the middle of a pandemic. So then the anxious thoughts started to creep in of whether or not I would have a chance to see him before he dies. My grandfather lives in Texas, while my husband and I live just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. We had a trip scheduled toward the beginning of the summer and had already pushed back so I didn't want to reschedule this trip once more knowing it could be the last time I see him. Coming to a conclusion was very challenging. We changed our minds back and forth multiple times and almost didn't go. However, my husband and I were able to pack up a week's worth of clothing and technology (I am a full time student at the moment) and we drove down to Texas. We were given the opportunity to see my grandfather at my grandparents house while we wore masks. Overall, the trip was great. My husband and I were grateful for the chance to see my family, especially my grandfather. While the decision of if we should see him or not was a difficult one that took a lot of thought and guidance, I am glad we went in the end.
• 
  07/25/2020

  Anonymous Oral History, 2020/07/25

  Shanna Gagnon conducts an interview with Anonymous. Anonymous is a 5 year old boy that lives in Northern California. He explains his initial reaction to COVID-19. Anonymous discusses how the pandemic has impacted his daily life, including who he can and cannot play with. He describes what people are acting like in his neighborhood. Anonymous details a recent family trip to the beach. He shares what he believes worries people most. And talks about why it is important for his family to stay extra safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anonymous imagines what life will be like a year from today and includes a possible new reality for what playground time will look like when he returns to school. His responses also cover how businesses are responding to COVID and his family’s consumer behaviors during the pandemic.
• 
  07/25/2020

  Anonymous Child Oral History, 2020/07/25

  Shanna Gagnon interviews an anonymous 8 year old girl about the COVID-19 pandemic. She explains her initial reaction to learning about COVID-19. Anonymous describes how the pandemic has impacted her daily life. She discusses how her family and friends are responding to COVID-19. She talks of the things that are important to and worrying people right now. Anonymous details the most difficult parts of the pandemic for her. She shares how COVID-19 is impacting local businesses and schools. She also discusses how she thinks life will be different moving forward and includes her thoughts on vacations and milestone celebrations, such as Halloween and birthdays.
• 
  05/07/2020

  Katherine Lauersdorf Oral History, 2020/05/07

  This interview was part of the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Public History Seminar course and UWEC COVID-19 Archive Project led by Dr. Cheryl Jimenez Frei and Greg Kocken.
• 
  05/08/2020

  Greta Oral History, 2020/05/08

• 
  03/30/2020

  Deborah Miller Oral History, 2020/03/30

  Title: Interview with Deborah Miller by Kristin F. Miller Creator: Deborah Miller and Kristin F. Miller [the following was added by the transcriber and curator of this item] Deborah Miller, long time resident of the northern Kentucky, Cincinnati area discusses her knowledge of the Coronavirus pandemic and how she feels being immune compromised herself due to recently undergoing treatment for cancer. For this reason, she was happy to be told to work from home at the end of March and talks about social distancing, masks, and cleaning at the office. She does not see society undergoing long term change as a result of the pandemic. Date: Interview Date – 03/30/2020 Description: Deborah is a tri-state area native born in Northern Kentucky and currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Deborah was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in 2019. In this interview, Deborah reflects on issues she has encountered as an immunocompromised person during the coronavirus pandemic so far, as well as offering encouraging words for society. Type: Oral History Geography: Location – Cincinnati, Ohio Additional Information: This submission is in partial fulfillment of course requirements for Dr. Rebecca Wingo at the University of Cincinnati. Additional metadata fields include: Interviewer: Kristin F. Miller Interviewee: Deborah Miller Duration: Sixteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds Subject Headings: Illness, Work-From-Home, Family Life Tags: shopping, grocery, toilet paper, work, good deeds, helping, Contagion, change, Vietnam, relationships
• 
  05/11/2020

  Christopher Krizek Oral History, 2020/05/11

  Curator Note: Interviewer, Alexander Michalski, and narrator, Christopher Krizek, discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on jobs, politics, the economy and families.
• 
  2020-04-16

  Humans of Covid-19 AU: Jemma Katz

  “In November, I was diagnosed with a cancer of the immune system. I've been undergoing chemo ever since. I finished three weeks ago, but the chemo is really intense and makes you very vulnerable to catching everything, so I can’t leave the house at all. My sister caught a tiny cold and it gave me a really intense chest infection. I have nothing in my body to fight off infection. My life was meant to go back to normal after chemo, but it hasn’t. Very much the opposite. The whole experience of cancer and then corona all around has made me realise how much I took for granted in my life, like being independent. I pretty much can’t do anything alone. I'm 23, and not really living the life of a 23 year old. I've found it helpful to establish a routine. I’m looking forward to being able to do the simple things once this is over, like going for a drive or a walk alone, being able to look after myself.” Instagram post on Jemma, a university student, and her experience during the pandemic, which was created by a psychology student living in Melbourne who was interested to hear about how COVID-19 was impacting on different peoples’ lives.
• 
  2020-04-02

  Cancer doesn't press pause during a pandemic

  This article is a timely reminder that while there is a pandemic that has seemingly put our lives on hold, for others, that is not the case. Cancer isn't put on hold during a pandemic. People will continue to be diagnosed with cancer, they will continue to get treatments despite the risks of COVID-19 and sadly, people will pass away from cancer. This article is a really moving piece that highlights the experience of COVID-19 from the perspective of someone living with terminal cancer and the likelihood that they may not see the other side of isolation.
• 
  2020-05-28

  Coronavirus has a higher death rate for cancer patients or survivors

  "New research shows how dangerous the coronavirus is for current and former cancer patients."
• 2020-05-24

  Upbeat ‘cancer dancer’ lifts souls

  A story about a cancer patient who uses the internet to post hip hop dances from the hospital in order to chear people up during the COVID crisis. A bit of fresh air during a very difficult and fearful time. We could use more of this.
• 
  2020-04-17

  Cancer Care Students Help Isolated Families During Pandemic

  The pandemic has created critical needs for the families at Christopher's Haven, a temporary home for those whose children are undergoing cancer care at Boston hospitals. Students in Professor Jessica Mak's Cancer Care course--who had been helping the organization as part of their semester-long service learning project--have stepped in to deliver groceries, raise funds for essential supplies, and spread cheer remotely. "Suffolk students always go above and beyond to support and celebrate our Christopher's Haven families. Now, when our families are feeling so isolated, it means a lot to know the students are still thinking about them," says Catie MacWilliams from Christopher's Haven.
• 
  5/11/2020

  Chris Kreizak Oral History, 2020/05/11

  The contributor of this item did not include verbal or written consent. We attempted to contact contributor (or interviewee if possible) to get consent, but got no response or had incomplete contact information. We can not allow this interview to be listened to without consent but felt the metadata is important. The recording and transcript are retained by the archive and not public. Should you wish to listen to audio file reach out to the archive and we will attempt to get consent.
• 
  2020-04-28

  Coping with COVID-19 with an Immunocompromised Child

  Coping with COVID-19 with an Immunocompromised Child _________________________ My step-daughter, Selena, was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2017 at the age of 3. She had to undergo two surgeries, many months of chemo therapy, and is now missing a kidney and part of her lung. This was a very scary time and health was constantly on the minds of our family. We didn’t go anywhere without a mask, washed our hands constantly, had to avoid anyone who seemed like they might be sick. My wife, then girlfriend, and I had to limit our exposure because we knew that anything we caught would get her and be twice as worse. If we came down with a cough or a runny nose, we either had to isolate to a different part of the house or have Selena stay with her grandparents until we got better to try and keep her from catching anything. Selena missed going to preschool so that she would have less exposure and keep getting healthy. Even with her going into remission in June of 2018, she was diagnosed with asthma after a winter cold turned to pneumonia and she had to be hospitalized in late 2019. The health of her immune system has been a never ending concern. The rise of COVID-19 has been a living nightmare. The constant worry of her getting sick came back and hit like a truck. Watching the number of cases rise throughout the world and in the US and the lack of response was awful. As the virus continued to spread, eventually schools and business were shut down. My wife and step-daughter would be at home and not have to go out, but I did. I was considered an essential worker due to working with government contracts and everyday had to work in close proximity of others. I heard or talked to multiple coworkers who said it was only the flu and corona wasn’t a big deal. It would pass and it wouldn’t affect most people, so why should we have to worry? But I worried. Even if most people would survive it, my daughter might not. She was at the forefront of my mind every time someone complained about stores closing or joked about keeping distant from one another. These were the people who would destroy my family because of their carelessness. Every day of work I had to be on my guard. When work sent home those that could work remotely, I still had to work on site. Even as my workplace began to implement precautions like telling people to stay 6 apart, I had to side step around those that would otherwise walk right past you. I would have to hang back and wait while others would crowd into the bathroom. I avoided lunch rooms and break areas, only eating in my car. I wore gloves all day and wiped my work surface multiple times a day. When I got home, I had to immediately put my work cloths in the wash and wipe everything I took with me to work. I would have to tell my daughter to not hug me until I had changed. I hated having to go to work. They said that the work we did was important and thank you for working during these hard times, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t concerned about myself or about the work I was doing. I was risking my daughter’s life every single day so that someone else could profit. I had to risk her life because without my income my family wouldn’t have a house to live in or food to eat. I was forced to put her on the line whether I wanted to or not. It was crushing me inside. How would I live with myself if she got sick because I had to go to work? If she died? I asked myself these questions every single day. Finally, after over a month of increased rules and precautionary measures at work, the implemented a system so you could apply to stay home with pay if you or a family member were at high risk. It took two weeks of back and forth paperwork, but at long last it was approved. The constant daily stress subsided to a much more manageable level. There is still some concern. I have to be cautious when picking up groceries, even though we only use curbside pickup. I had to wait outside of Walmart at open to get toilet paper and then decontaminate upon returning home. I worry about the return of COVID-19 in the fall and if these precautions will be implemented any faster or will we have to same slow reaction. I think about all of those still not able to leave work; risking the lives of those they love against their will. I worry for those less fortunate who don’t have income now and are at risk of losing everything because of something out of their hands. I think what I worry most about after all that has happened this year is nothing changing.
• 
  2020-04-24

  Personal Story of Lockdown

  As I write this I have no idea as to how long we have been socially isolating. I have not been keeping count of the days. I have been writing a diary of sorts but mainly just ordinary daily events not a 'pandemic' diary. My last physical contact and close encounter with friends was a Saturday afternoon and we made plans to see each other soon. Just two days later it was apparent that we would not see each other for a very long time. Quite suddenly the world was closed. How did I feel when the implications of the lockdown became apparent? At first it was just social isolation and I was sad as I wouldn't be able to see my family and hug them. Then very quickly the closure of libraries was announced – that really hurt as reading books is one of my main pleasures. An actual book that is not an e book on the laptop. Frustratingly I could see a book I had ordered – one that was in the middle of a detective series I was enjoying – through the window on the shelf inside the library tantlisingly close. And it was not available as an e book! But I felt I could just carry on as sort of normal. I would adapt and possibly go through my own library of books on my own shelves. Then they closed the beaches and told us we couldn't drive to a trail to walk. A state of emergency was declared and the borders were closed. The full implications of what we were facing were becoming alarmingly apparent. I worried about my friends and family and their health situations. I worried about my own health as I have a lung disease. I felt almost overwhelming concern for everyone that was facing economic hardship and how people were going to cope. On my own home front my husband and I were facing our own difficult scenario. He was about to start six weeks of daily cancer radiation treatment. At the end of January he had undergone a fourteen hour surgical operation to remove a tumour located in his sinus – and replaced with facial reconstruction. He had his upper jaw bone removed and replaced with a bone taken from his leg and a skin graft taken from his thigh. He was discharged after nine days a remarkable recovery that says much about his determination and courage. Now we had the radiation to face. A daily journey round trip of 130 kilometres. Then they decided to double some of the treatments six hours apart so we had to come home and go back as there was nowhere to wait out the time in town – 260 kilometres round trip in a day. But somehow in all this apparent chaos in the world for us there was a silver lining. Because of the lockdown the roads were relatively empty – car parking at the hospital was easy and free. Gas prices had fallen so the financial burden of all the travelling was eased. My husband did most of these trips for treatment on his own. He enjoyed the freedom of the open road, had the music turned up loud and the heating full on. And I wasn't yacking in his ear! And for me on a very personal level I realised that when the full implications of the lockdown became apparent and I was not going anywhere or doing very much I felt a strange euphoria. I realised that for a very long time I had suffered a sort of anxiety a feeling of stress to always be doing more. I happen to not look my age so when I complained about tiredness my family often instructed me to 'use it or lose it' Grandma! “You are only as old as you feel” has some scientific validation and I never really felt as old as my advancing years but it was often a bit of a struggle. I am a photographer not professional it is a hobby but I sold some of my work at the local farmers market. So I always had personal goals and work to do. The real pleasure was in going out into the countryside and walking the beaches and photographing the landscape and wildlife. Without me giving it a conscious thought when the lockdown became strict my anxiety fell away. It just wasn't there anymore. I didn't need to step up to the mark all I needed to do was stay on my property. I am fortunate that I live on the edge of a tidal inlet so I look over water and the wildlife comes to me! Facing west I enjoy stunning sunsets. I have found myself relishing being able to relax and do stuff as I felt like it. Spacing out the things I wanted to do and taking the time to enjoy even the mundane stuff. My concentration levels changed my sleep times changed. I always resisted an afternoon nap it seemed such an 'elderly' thing to do. Now I was having a lovely nap after lunch and still unbelievably enjoying a long nights sleep. My energy levels changed – they got better! Books and movies I thought I would enjoy I didn't, but I would spend longer just sitting outside watching the waves or the clouds, listening to the birds and watching the squirrels. Catching the moment when an otter swam by or a bald eagle flew past with its catch. Because there wasn't anything else to do with my time I was 'using it not losing it' a completely different concept to the original cosh it was intended to be. If I could step away from the feeling of guilt for what others are suffering I can only say that I am relishing the ease of enjoying my days. This has also been enhanced by the support of dear friends and family who have provided meals and treats when cooking and shopping have been too much of a task. I have never eaten so well. My son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren have collectively and individually been the source of much comfort to us both. Now we have had the news of the tragic shooting that took place in Nova Scotia last weekend. Everything staggers into jagged shards of grief and dismay. I can find no words to describe the anguish we are feeling for the victims and families of this random rampage of violence. As always in these situations we try to understand why it happened and as always it is locked inside the perpetrators head. In one way or another all Nova Scotians 'know' each other and we are all affected . We will continue to be a kind and compassionate community supporting each other through these incredibly difficult times. I feel I am living in parallel universes. The anxiety of the news of the pandemic and how it is affecting individuals and families in Canada and the world. The trauma of a mass tragedy in Nova Scotia that has a profound affect on so many individuals and families and collectively on all of us. The incredible feeling of love and warmth for my community as I see so many people stepping up to the mark and helping and supporting one another. Watching my beloved husband go through gruelling treatment with so much courage and determination so we can have a future together. And here I am thankful beyond words that I am here in this place at this time. I will not live in fear. I will cherish this time as it is so precious. We mostly live taking the future for granted and now we know we can't. It is fragile and cannot be pinned down only lived fully moment to moment in love and hope. This is what I have found.