Not Today Rona (Part 2)

Read the beginning of Samantha's story in Not Today Rona (Part 1).

Suddenly, there was a shortage of toilet paper. After the first few cases of this incurable virus spread like wildfire, I felt like I was in an episode of The Walking Dead. Our schools shut down and went to online learning immediately. Graduation celebrations canceled. Sporting events canceled. I couldn't even find paper towels or cleaning products. It was worse than Black Friday. People would line up waiting for the store to open so they could grab the toilet paper. I kept thinking, "Why are so many people buying toilet paper of all things?" What do they normally do when using the restroom?

It was like the world had gone mad. Yet, where I live, so many people are in denial of this virus. This confuses me, because why are they hoarding toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and paper towels when our county page was mocking the virus because they were following the leader. As of November, 250,000 people have died. This is the first time I've ever voted against my affiliated party.

As some who's immunocompromised, I'm worried

As I am writing, I've basically been to only essential businesses since March. It's now November. Due to the fact that I have stage 4 lung cancer, I am severely immunocompromised. As are my parents who are aging. In my opinion, this country dropped the ball on this virus, but I wasn't going to allow our family to drop the ball.

Throughout the summer, my daughter went stir crazy. We didn't go to the beach or pool or on any vacations. She was practically begging to go back to school.

Navigating the start of the school year

Once August came, she got her wish but it came with a cost. All students wear masks while indoors. The school system also decided that if a child was exposed to another with the virus, they were to be quarantined for two weeks. My poor daughter only made it to the second day before she was quarantined.

This was scary to me. She had to stay in my home for 2 weeks all day. It's difficult for her to focus on online learning. Therefore, her grades slipped. She's working hard to bring them up but this virus completely took over our lives. We would make 3 a.m. post office runs and 7 a.m. grocery runs. I became less afraid because she didn't show any symptoms. It was great having her around all day to help me out.

How much will we need to put on pause?

Even children have died from it. This virus is airborne. I've never seen anything like this in my entire life. The government is encouraging us not to visit family for the holidays.

I need to see my family. I've had a stroke out of nowhere. This is my 8th year of living with stage 4 lung cancer. I don't want to spend the days that I have left locked in my home like a hermit crab. So my daughter and I decided we would only go see my parents. I want to celebrate this holiday and my 8 year cancerversary with them.

We know it's a risk to travel, but we will have gloves and masks. I feel like this virus is ruining my life. Having my daughter around every day for two weeks was amazing. I don't want to chance getting sick when we are so close to a vaccine.

I have every reason to be nervous

The group I manage, "Lung Care Awareness - Fresh Air" began offering online games through Zoom. Everything is Zoom now. I miss human contact. So many people tell me I'm afraid. Well, I have every reason to be that way.

So, as we are at another peak in this virus outbreak, I continue to say "not today rona".