The Catch of a Lifetime

THE BIG CATCH

For you professional anglers out there, this is a great story but not a “fish on” winning story. This is my story about catching COVID-19 at the start of 2022; it is filled with tons of fishy puns but no big trophy fish.

A FISH OUT OF WATER

Have you ever seen a fish pulled from the water? If you’re a fisherman or woman, then I hooked you with my headline; thank you for reading on. Also, I know you have seen a fish out of the water, but for those less familiar… they flip and flop and struggle to breathe and escape. An experienced fisherman is quick to pull them out and humanely handle the situation. A less experienced person pulling a fish might lead to a scene with gills contracting, bodies wrenching, and contorting in an effort to survive. “Fish out of water” is an idiom used to refer to a person who is in unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable, surroundings. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_out_of_water)

THE CATCH & RELEASE

I've never felt so akin to a fish before my experience with COVID. On January 3, 2022, I tested positive for COVID. It was scary because of all the stories I've heard both from friends and the media. That being said, the initial experience was far less severe than I braced for and than many of the startling stories I had heard. I did have a weird inflammatory reaction, primarily in my right thumb, but I thought I had fully recovered and returned to working remotely quite quickly. I even jumped in my car to drive 4 hours to care for my mom when she tested positive. One month later, after three trips to urgent care and one hospital visit already, I found myself in my car driving to the Mayo Clinic because I was unable to breathe. I parked, gathered my energy, and managed to walk into the ER. Like a fish out of water, I was utterly terrified, beyond uncomfortable, and gasping for air.

The Mayo Care Team took quick action in triaging me, and when they returned from my x-ray, they delivered the words I feared the most: “You have COVID pneumonia, and we are admitting you. You will be here for at least a couple of days.” My heart sank, and images of completely opaque lungs that I had seen in the media for the last two years cycled through my mind. Every time I found words to cling to for comfort or experienced a small moment of peace, my anxiety battled thoughts of hopelessness and sad stories from friends losing loved ones back into my mind.

After my CT scan, I remember calling my husband while awaiting additional news. I completely broke down. I kept saying, “Please tell me I am going to walk out of here.” At some point, I was brought upstairs to the room where I would remain for three days. It was a large room. Because my PCR test kept coming back positive, I was not allowed any visitors. The space only made it feel more lonely. Fortunately, I had an amazing care team. In particular, the nurses were exceptional at being my stand-in tangible support. Adam and Alexa, if you see this, thank you for making me as comfortable as possible and for being so kind and compassionate.

While I was hospitalized, the number of COVID cases grew like a wildfire fed by crazy winds, drought-afflicted lands, and the heat of summer months here in Arizona. The demand for care and beds was overwhelming. Additionally, due to my immune-suppressed status from the weeks of strong steroids and the increase of other viruses such as the flu, I was discharged just a couple of days later. With my home oxygen, seven additional prescriptions, a remote care box (complete with a tablet and vital-measuring devices), and no real answers as to why I was having this sort of acute reaction weeks after my initial COVID-positive status, I was wheeled out to my car to drive home.

SCHOOLING FISH

I'm just over a week out from leaving the hospital. Most of the time I spent at home last week I do not remember; it is all a bit of a blur. What I do remember is all the warm and loving support I received. Of course, my husband, closest friends, and family have been amazing—sending food, love, sharing comforting words, and checking in on me regularly.

Another incredible component of support has been the people I work with and the company I work for. Fullscript has been truly amazing (not that I am surprised). I am honestly touched by the outpouring of love and support I have received from my workplace. First, I was able to take COVID leave, which was really helpful as I in no way anticipated needing so much time to rehab. I have also had a ton of support in the form of folks reaching out, sending me Uber Eats, flowers, words of encouragement, and some wellness advice. My boss and team were more concerned with me getting better than the strain it put on our small team with me being out. I was trying to come back partially because I miss it, but also because I have internalized this pressure to perform and felt anxious about all the time I had been away. My boss insisted I take the rest of the week to really recover. The next breath I drew in came a little bit easier.

I have been with the company for 14 years, and half of my wedding party and invite list was made up of relationships forged through my career with Fullscript. Clearly, it is a job I love, and I am not sure how to appropriately express my gratitude and pride for being part of a company that treats its employees with such dignity, care, compassion, and respect.

KEEPING IT REEL

I'm still having trouble breathing and require many prescriptions, including breathing treatments and occasionally O2. I am also quarantining at home, interacting in person only with my husband, who has been wearing N95 masks in an effort to keep me healthy, as my immune system has been severely depressed due to the copious amounts of high-dose steroids I have had to take.

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

I shared with the VP of Sales at Fullscript that I am used to pushing through things, so life served me something I couldn't just push through. I'm physically unable to depend on my body to do what I would normally do. I'm used to being the support, not asking for it. The biggest challenge in all this has been to slow down, to be patient with myself, to ask for help, and to listen to the universe. When something needs to change, the universe knocks. So often, we are too busy to answer; when she comes back, she’ll kick the (pardon my French) door down, and you have no choice but to listen. So here I am, listening, taking my time, and keeping myself busy by sharing a little story about my experience with COVID. In the moment, it is hard to see my progress, but with the encouragement and reminders from my best friend, I am able to look back and see that each day I am getting stronger. As I look ahead, I am excited for the little things like seeing friends again or going out to eat.

GRATITUDE IS THE ATTITUDE

I couldn’t think of another fish pun for a header; please comment below if you have a suggestion.

Despite the horror of such an experience, I have a lot to be grateful for. I am blessed to be here. I am incredibly fortunate to have the support systems that I do, including my loved ones, my job, and the amazing people helping to bring me back to wellness, including my care team from Mayo. I am grateful for the not-so-subtle reminder to slow down and make time for myself and my wellness, and the opportunity to get better at something I have neglected. I am grateful for those who helped without me having to ask. I am even more grateful for those who insisted when I made it hard for them (Justin, Mom, Mareesa, and anyone else I am forgetting in my oxygen-deprived state…sorry and thank you).

If you are still reading this, take it as the universe knocking, and learn from my story. May you never have to learn this lesson the way that I did, and may you be blessed with wellness and the support in your life to achieve whatever is in front of you and in your dreams. AND… one more fish pun… I hope this touched your sole, and may great things happen for you and those you love.