In mid-March I wrote about the seriousness of COVID19. At that time, I didn’t know it would affect my family in a devastatingly personal way. I didn’t know that we’d be losing a loved one to COVID, and suffer so much more.
2020 Cancelled
I was scared and hunkered down at the outset of March, a bit before life stopped and 2020 was canceled, while many were still traveling around on vacations.
It Was The Worst Of Times
My knowledge and forethought did little to prepare me, or my family for the losses. Here I said “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” Now it’s just the worst of times.
COVID And Our Loved Ones
COVID impacts us all with tremendous losses that are far too grave and widespread to detail here. Below are just a few of those my family has suffered.
Losing A Loved One To COVID
One family member is gone. One family friend is gone. Yes, two of our people are dead and will never come back.
COVID Rampant Danger
A robust young cousin suffered from COVID19. It was nothing like a flu. He appeared briefly at our Zoom Passover Seder and 15 days out looked like he had been hit by a truck.
Praying For Our Health Warriors
A dear friend is a nurse on the front lines and shows up for work day after day in New York City while we worry that she will not be given personal protective equipment (PPE). She doesn’t care. She wants to save your life. I pray she will not lose hers.
9/11 x Ten = 30,000 Dead
This virus has killed more than 30,000 Americans. That is ten 9/11s in a few weeks, and the death count marches on. I can no longer bear to hear the word “hoax” in any context whatsoever.
The Opposite Of Preparedness
Why does a simple one-syllable word bring me to tears? It reminds me that the US was focused on “small government” and killed our Global Health Office. It reminds me that while other countries were fighting a battle against invisible terror orders of magnitude more threatening than 9/11, our government was still denying its existence. That is the opposite of preparedness.
Patriotic Americans
This is the moment for patriotic Americans to make time for brave self-reflection. And for grieving. It is a time to understand what it is to be human and vulnerable. To look at what it means to be part of a family. And to look at how we can be better Americans.
A Time For Self-Reflection
This is the time for the patriotism that makes our country great. To look at our mistakes so that we can improve. A time to honor the fallen, so needlessly sacrificed to a terrifying enemy, as our country, ruled by disorganized dysfunction and chaos, allowed it to run rampant. We can do better than this.
Nikki Thomason says
Elana, I am so sorry to hear that your cousin lost his life to this terrible disease.
I wish our government had acted sooner.
You and your family are in my prayers.
Nikki
Elana says
Nikki, thanks so much for your support. Thankfully, my cousin recovered, it was a different family member that we lost. This disease has hit our country so hard, and the losses are devastating. Stay safe.
Sheri says
I am so very sorry for your losses. You are absolutely correct that we can do better and we have to. There is just no reason we are in this position of senseless loss of so many lives with the advance warning we had. And we have to march on to prepare much better for the next one that comes out way. Thank you for all you do. We are all better for the contributions you make. If there is any way we can support you and any efforts to be sure there is not another 4 years with this bully who is only looking after his best interest.
Elana says
Sheri, your words are so thoughtful and greatly appreciated because yes, this is an unbelievably senseless loss. Prayers that you are safe!
Shawn Reilly says
I am so sorry. I don’t even know what else to say. I can’t put it into words. I will say a prayer for you.
Elana says
Shawn, thank you for your prayers, that means a lot to us.
claire maunsell says
It is so very hard Elana – and there is nothing I can say to make it more bearable – or understandable. I have been marking the grim statistics of the infected and watching the count rise even as I drink a cup of coffee in the morning. All these deaths are personal, it could be anyone of us. And, I believe as you do that much of this could have been avoided with a dose of humility in our respective governments and gratitude for the time we were given (and wasted) from not being the first waves of sickness in the world. We could have learned and acted instead of arguing.
Please accept my sympathy for the deaths of the people you loved so well. We are all diminished by these cruel and constant events….
Elana says
Claire, your comment is perfect. Thank you so much.
Mary Boyd says
So very sorry for your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Elana says
Mary, thanks very much. Stay safe!
Debra says
Dear Elana
I’m so very sorry for your loss,
I pray for God’s comfort for you and your family. Please know I will continue to pray for you and your families protection.
With deepest sympathy
Debra
Elana says
Debra, so much gratitude for you support, thank you. I hope you and yours are safe.
Carmela says
My condolences for your losses. What a tragedy. Grief is so painful under normal circumstances but this is far from normal. Sending love to you and your family.
Elana says
Carmela, thanks for your kind and thoughtful words, very grateful.
Nancy says
I am very sorry to hear of your losses. Thank you for clearly articulating how sad this situation is, both personally and for the entire country. So much could have been done to prevent the disastrous situation we are in now. We cannot have this man in office another 4 years.
Elana says
Nancy, thanks for your condolences, they mean the world to us.
Jill says
Elana, You have expressed what many of us have felt and can’t express. My thoughts are with you and our world in distress. I am broken hearted.
Elana says
Jill, thanks for your kind words during this time that is so difficult for so many. Stay safe.
Melinda says
I agree 100% with everything you have stated about our government’s horrendous response to the biggest threat the country has faced. It is criminal. We can only hope that everything changes from here, absolutely everything. Very sorry for your families loss. Please take care.
Elana says
Melinda, thanks for your support during this unnecessary tragedy.
Rachel says
Oh Elana. I am so, so sorry. I don’t believe I have ever commented here, though I have been grateful for your site for years. Thank you for sharing your pain and truth at a time of such deep grief. I shelter at home every day (though our governor has not ordered it) to do what I can to help other families not suffer so needlessly. Much love to you and yours.
Elana says
Rachel, thanks for your words of support, and your actions as well, which are caring to so many and will prevent the spread of this terrifying disease.