Tag: pandemic

Virus

Table from Your Local Epidemiologist as of 23Sept21

Virus (noun)
an ultramicroscopic (20 to 300 nanometers in diameter), metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals: composed of an RNA or DNA core, a protein coat, and, in more complex types, a surrounding envelope.

The table above is from the incomparable Your Local Epidemiologist. Normally she is an epidemiologist researching public health outcomes in people exposed to violence. Not only does she do her day job, but also all things (24/7) COVID-19. Along with Dear Pandemic, these scientists have been bastions of truth, up-to-date data, and science about the pandemic. See more resources at the bottom of this post.

It’s been nearly nine months to the day that I’ve done a post. The last 18 months I’ve found the creative sucked right out of me. When people were painting, baking bread, going viral on TikTok, it was everything I could do to push through work and keep up with the roller coaster of the pandemic.

Last year at this time I couldn’t have imagined when a vaccine became available that everyone wouldn’t be clamoring to get it or that it would become political. When I ask people if they could get a vaccine to keep from getting cancer, the response is a resounding yes! Though, I do see people push back against teens be vaccinated against HPV, which studies have shown to drastically reduce head, neck, and ovarian cancers.

In 1947, NYC vaccinated 6m people against smallpox in less than six months. People were lined up around the boroughs to make sure they wouldn’t die. This is what I envisioned would be the same outcome for COVID-19. I also expected there to be a national public health initiative to help people understand the need for wearing a mask and getting vaccinated, but owing to who was president last year, that was literally tossed out the window. I also thought the new administration would take this on, creating a national vaccine database, etc. Alas, this is not happening. And contact tracing was a joke from day one.

As someone who has worked in health and science communications for over 25 years, I’m so disappointed in the lack of viable information from the leaders in our country. Disappointed that people continue to be willfully ignorant. The time for not believing or thinking it’s all a conspiracy theory is long since over, and beyond ridiculous.

Think about it, how could countries that don’t get along under normal times be in a conspiracy together? Like hey country we really don’t like, let’s try to pull the wool over the eyes of these non-believers, go into cahoots to say there’s this new virus, but it’s really they’re dying of something else. And the irony is, the people perpetuating these conspiracy theories at the highest levels are vaccinated.

COVID-19 isn’t the only virus we’re dealing with. There is a full on assault on women, minorities, poor people, voting rights, right to being housed, right to healthcare, right to have food and it goes on and on. Why do people always have to keep someone else down to feel good about their lot in life? Why can’t we make housing, food, healthcare, jobs, a right of birth?

I believe in the collective. Do you?

#GetVaccinated #WearAMask

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People you can count on for truth re: COVID-19
Dr. Dara Kass
Rob Swanda
KizzyPhD
Dr. Lindsey Leininger
Dr. Alison Buttenheim
Dr. Kimberly Manning
Dr. Uche Blackstock
Dr. Craig Spencer

Normal

normal

Normal (adjective)
conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected

I’ve always wondered what normal is and why anyone would want to be it? Normal always sounded so boring to me. And normal as compared to what? Is it what society says is meant to be normal? And at different points in your life there are different normals.

I remember back after I was diagnosed and so, so, so sick. The bargaining started. If only I could be my former self again. I don’t remember ever mentioning being normal.

Since COVID-19 slammed into the U.S. earlier this year, people have been talking about getting back to “normal,” but I think it’s really about stability. Humans are creatures of habit. We crave thinking that we have everything under control, when it’s really the illusion of control. We crave whatever version of normal is our own.

When you’re diagnosed with something like MS, life, which is already uncertain, has a bit more thrown into the mix. And good, bad, or other, the general population is getting a glimpse into what it’s like to live with a disability or our “normal.”

I have extreme heat intolerance, and I don’t mean like “oof it’s hot out.” I mean, if I go outside when the temps get to around 75F with humidity, my brain starts to not work properly. Or if I’m home and the building heat kicks on at 60F, I need the a/c on. So I’m largely indoors from May through September, with odd trips out here and there. My car hire bills for hot weather months might as well be a car payment and insurance.

Had trouble getting food delivered during the pandemic? Think about the elderly and disabled during regular times and compound that by 1,000 during a crisis. People who aren’t able to easily go to a market were frozen out of online delivery for weeks. I watched this unfold on Twitter re: people with cancer, MS, and other acute and chronic illnesses.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990, and yet companies are still not held accountable, after 30 years. People with disabilities have been looked over for jobs since the dawn of time, but literally overnight, we shifted to work from home for most of the corporate world, and suddenly, technologically, anything is possible (and in reality always has been). In theory, the “new normal,” should open doors for a lot more people. I only hope it actually does.

If we go back to the way things were, the lesson has been lost.

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New York City

Roof viewphoto: from my roof 

 

NYC (noun)
New York City comprises 5 boroughs sitting where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At its core is Manhattan, a densely populated borough that’s among the world’s major commercial, financial, and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and sprawling Central Park. Broadway theater is staged in neon-lit Times Square.

You’re probably wondering what NYC has to do with multiple sclerosis? Well, it’s the epicenter of COVID-19, both in the U.S. and now…globally…and where I’m from (yes, Manhattan, native in my blood & heart) and live, on my own.

I’ve worked from home for several years and while this part isn’t a big change for me, like it is for others that are now, the difference is I break that up by actually GOING OUT. Going out to eat, the movies, exercise, concerts, travel, see family & friends, and shops.

People have asked if I’m lonely, and probably not so much, although I’m a hugger, so I do miss those. Considering I haven’t touched another person in a month. I’m fairly certain living by myself has not only kept the CV away, but also keeps the MS at bay. And I haven’t thrived with MS for the last 12 years to be taken out by a virus that truly is…stupid.

I’d say the City (Manhattan) is probably half empty with so many people leaving for second homes (definitely only 1/3 left in my building).  I have friends that work at the local hospitals, and it is as bad as the news is saying, but even with that I couldn’t imagine leaving. Even with the dystopian nightmare that is happening, there is also hope.

There’s really nothing like a NYer when it comes to banding together, helping one another, and fixing the damage in the aftermath. If you haven’t read the Michael Schulman interviewing Fran Leibowitz [here] it’s really worth it. And I was saying it before the article came out!

I’m so thankful (and, I know, privileged being safe at home) for the essential people working out there across all industries: local farmers that keep the food supply going, truckers, grocery stores, environmental services in the hospitals, food delivery, caregivers, drug stores, cable & phone, and everyone else that deserves better than society has done for them historically.

While the billionaire companies have their hands out for money from the government, that they don’t even need (and they chastise every day people for doing it). Billionaires aren’t the ones doing the work keeping the country running, every day people always have, and always will.

I would like to think that things will change after the thick of the crisis is over, I am skeptical, but would love to be proven wrong. People need living wages (based on where they live), universal healthcare (access to HCPs included!), and proper vacation and sick leave. In just about every other western country, these are a right, not a privilege.

Please be safe, wash your hands, stay home, and let’s steamroll that curve! Alicia Keys got it right…[here].

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