Social Distancing
Unless you have been hiding off the grid, or under a rock, you know that the entire world is now fighting a new, never seen before corona virus called Covid 19. The United States seems to be a few weeks behind Italy, and we can learn from their experience. Schools are closed. Professional Sports seasons are cancelled. Broadway stopped. The show must wait. Church services are cancelled. The CDC tells us to practice social distancing. To stay 6 feet away from others. To stay home if we feel sick and to quarantine at home for 2 weeks. Covid 19 appears to be deadlier than the flu, and spreads easier.
These developments are shocking and becoming scarier each day. In my cancer fight, I am used to experiencing unexpected challenges sometimes overnight. I can be feeling well, and the next day end up in the hospital. I expect the unexpected. In the cancer community, we call ourselves cancer warriors. Some of the things I learned during my cancer experience, could transfer to this corona virus pandemic we are all experiencing. We are all warriors in this fight.
Hoarding toilet paper and “retail therapy.”
Over the course of a few days, it seems everyone in the US went to the grocery store and bought all of the toilet paper, hand sanitizer, masks, cleaning products, bottled water, canned food, flour, and other food. Store shelves are picked over and bare. I didn’t expect the run on toilet paper, but this apparently is not unique to the US. In Italy, China, and other countries, everyone went to the store and bought all the toilet paper! There must be some phychological reason this is a universal thing with this corona virus crisis.
After I was diagnosed with cancer, I practiced “retail therapy.” I bought clothes, and it made me feel better! In this case, maybe purchasing enormous amount of food and supplies is a sort of retail therapy, or a way for people to feel they have control in this situation that it is hard to feel any control over. Hoarding food and supplies make us feel safe. I learned that retail therapy is only a temporary good feeling. I find more joy as I look around and interact with others fighting cancer or other challenges, like me. Providing and receiving encouragement and support to and from others brings me more joy than retail therapy.
We are not alone
We are not alone! It is a lesson that cancer has taught me and is now a permanent part of my heart. I know I not alone in my cancer fight. We are all not alone in this corona virus fight. I worry about the elderly, or disabled people who have a hard time getting out to go shopping. Are they without the things they need? Today I called my next door neighbor who is a widow and lives by herself. I asked her if she needed any toilet paper, bottled water, or food? She appreciated the call and the concern, and thankfully had what she needed. Please check on your friends and neighbors. We need each other, and we need to work together. Helping others get the supplies they need and sharing what we have will bring us more joy than just hoarding for ourselves.
Fighting the corona virus pandemic
Friday I had two doctor appointments. One with my palliative care doctor, and another with my oncologist. Unlike the previous appointments I have had over the last two years, both doctor’s clinics called me the night before and asked me corona virus screening questions. The next day at UTSW medical center, they asked me and my husband the same questions.
There were not as many people at UTSW Friday. My doctors, nurses, and assistants all wore masks and they did not shake my hand as they used to. My doctors showed me extra concern. I was told that the worse thing about this virus is that many people already have it but don’t know it. My oncologist explained that typically, a person with the virus feels no symptoms the first 5 days or so and ends up infecting all they interact with. Both doctors I saw Friday told me that I was at high risk of experiencing severe symptoms and even death if i caught Covid 19. They asked me stay home from anything that wasn’t urgent for the next few weeks as the virus spreads in our community.
For more information about Covid 19, what UTSW is doing now, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family, click this link: https://utswmed.org/covid-19/
Doctors and nurses on the front lines
The two doctors I saw Friday seemed to have an extra weight on their shoulders. It occurred to me that that our doctors and nurses are on the front lines in this war against Covid 19. UTSW hospital has set up many large tent rooms outside the hospital in order to have more ICU beds for the corona virus patients that they expected in the weeks ahead. My doctors seemed to be preparing mentally and physically for the war ahead. And make no mistake, this is a war.
In Italy, doctors work all day fighting this war without bathroom breaks in their protective clothing treating corona virus patients. They don’t go home so they don’t bring the virus home to their families. They sleep at the hospital. The hospitals do not have enough ventilators for all of the patients that need them and they have to decide who gets the life saving equipment. Hospitals and health care workers in every state are prepared to help the expected large amount of corona virus patients that are coming soon.
My heart feels such love and gratitude for my doctors and nurses! I feel the burden of this war they carry and I want to do something for them. Nevertheless, I feel helpless and that there is nothing I can do. Friday as my oncologist told me to stay home to stay well, I felt strongly that the gift I could give them is to not get sick. I know my doctors love me and would appreciate me staying well. So, I will be staying home for the next few weeks.
No one knows what we will face, but hopefully, we will all not panic, but take it seriously. We will get through this together. We need each other. Stay home if you are sick. Wash your hands frequently. Cancel travel plans if you can.
Finding joy as we face this corona virus challenge
If you have been following this blog, you know that throughout my cancer journey, I have struggled, and eventually realized that I needed to find joy. To read more about my search for joy, read about my choose joy journal here: https://juliesnotdyingtoday.com/choose-joy-journal/ .
Is there joy to find in the corona virus pandemic we face? Can we find joy as we separate ourselves and practice social distancing? We are social beings. Hugging and touching is important. We like to attend concerts, and sporting events, school sports, and school plays our children are in. We go to church and worship together. Now, all of that is gone. You may be scrambling with how to care for and entertain your children who now are home from school for who knows how long. You may feel separated from friends. Is there joy in this?
I think we have the opportunity to slow down, to be together with our families. We can play together, strengthen relationships. Together with our families, we can have peace, not fear. As we examine our faith together, we can become closer to God. We can help our family’s testimony and faith in God grow. We may not have had the opportunity racing to and from sporting events, school events, work, and everywhere else. Instead of relying on a pastor, Sunday school teacher, or school teacher, We can teach, we can learn from our children. We can have joy in our homes.
With faith, fear disappears
This is a precious opportunity. With faith, we can stomp out fear. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Our prophet, President Nelson, gave the following message about faith and fear a few years ago. It is a little over 3 minutes and is especially relevant now. Watch it here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2011-11-020-mens-hearts-shall-fail-them?lang=eng&_r=1
social distancing: closer families
President Nelson is a retired heart surgeon, a doctor who is respected by his peers. In order to be part of the solution in this corona virus war, our Sunday worship services have been temporarily cancelled. In addition, our temples are temporarily closed. About a year ago, President Nelson made radical changes to our Sunday worship. We moved to a home centered church, meaning, we all studied the same passage of scripture each week, and then Sunday lessons would reinforce and discuss what we had studied and read. Last year we studied the New Testament together. This year we are studying the Book of Mormon. Today President Nelson released the following message: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-message-covid-19
Today me, my husband and my daughter sat together in our family room and studied scripture together. We shared thoughts, prayed, and took the sacrament together. We felt that the Lord was with us. What a powerful and wonderful feeling. It is joy! This scripture in the Doctrine of Covenants (a book of scripture given when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was established) comes to my mind: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name. . . behold, there will I be, in the midst of them–even so, I am in the midst of you.” D&C 6:32.
The Lord can be with you in your family room. Today he was with us in ours. Joy? YES! Eventually, when church services eventually resume, it will be wonderful gathering with our church brothers and sisters again. For now, we will enjoy this opportunity to worship at home with Christ in our midst. We can find joy together.