Emma

(Interview Conducted May 2021)

Emma is a bright, young, and healthy 23-year-old woman and another survivor who is clueless about how they contracted Covid-19. An urgent trip to the ER for intense chest pain and difficulty breathing initially had doctors suspecting Emma of having a heart attack - she presented no fever, cough, or sore throat - but a rapid test revealed she had Covid-19 along with pneumonia in her left lung. Emma’s initial reaction to her diagnosis was that this would be a short-term sickness, given her age and her fellow friend’s experiences with Covid-19.  For two weeks, the virus kept her bedridden, and she started to have unwanted suicidal thoughts and depression - something she has never experienced before. On Day 14, the health department called to provide her with some unexpected news: she was the first person to test positive for the B117 UK variant in Kent County. The only other person to test positive at that time was an 80-year-old woman in Kalamazoo.  Following those two weeks, Emma felt better for a period of time and said she was almost 70% back to normal. But one night in March, she was driving home from work when suddenly, she started seeing double and couldn’t think. Frightened, she made it home, but the following day she woke up and hasn’t been the same.  Emma now suffers from blurry vision, chronic fatigue, psychological distress, and extreme brain fog.  She has a hard time remembering things or being able to think of what to say. During neurological evaluations, she ranks in the dementia category. Every day it seems like Emma adds a new symptom to the growing list.  Her life has drastically changed: she is no longer able to work, she spends most of her time sleeping or resting, and she has to bounce back-and-forth between numerous medical specialists. There seem to be no answers for what is happening to her, and she consistently hears, “you have Long Covid, and there is not much we can do right now.” The nights are hardest for Emma because she goes to bed each night, not knowing if she will wake up. Thankfully, there is still hope.  Her new primary care physician is incredibly understanding and is working on getting her into a rehab recovery program that has helped other long covid survivors get back on their feet. Emma’s family and husband have been a massive support system during this time, coming to visit her and to play games to keep her mind off of what is happening. As more and more of society attempts to return to normal, Emma wants people to continue taking this virus seriously and understand that it does not discriminate, and anyone can become a covid “long-hauler.” 

*Hear Emma’s full story below in her Zoom Interview.