A Tribute to my Community (COVID-19 journey)

Isaiah 40:26 - "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."

I have been home for one week since my readmission to the hospital. Although I am physically weaker this time compared to my first discharge, I am emotionally, mentally, and spiritually stronger. I asked for patience from the Lord on my last blog - He gave and is continuing to give me more than I have asked for.

The purpose of this blog is to THANK YOU. All of you.

On 9/16, I was on Day 25 since my first COVID-19 symptom, and 13 days since my last discharge from the hospital. After my first discharge, I rested until I got the energy to be more physically active. I added a couple feet of walking everyday, I didn't need my rescue inhaler as much, and I just listened to my body for when it told me to rest. However, on that Wednesday, I woke up in the middle of the night because I simply felt uncomfortable. I sat up to catch my breath and rest, and then started to feel chest tightness and shortness of breath. I took my rescue inhaler, and still did not feel better. I rested for another four hours, and then the same symptoms came about, and I took my rescue inhaler once again. I felt malaise - a general feeling of illness - the whole morning. Eventually, my mom took me to the emergency room, but the physical exertion of simply going to the hospital and my exposure to the ashy, smokey air exacerbated my asthma. It went downhill from there.

Currently, I am on several medications that help me breathe, rescue nebulizer around the clock, cough medicines, and several vitamins. I use a walker to move around, my posture is hunched, my legs slide, my hands shake, and my speed is at the same pace as a turtle (they say the turtle wins the race, eventually!). I am strictly only allowed to be indoors (even opening the window makes me cough), and my air is currently being purified and humidified all day long. I rest for most of the morning, and start to feel more energy in the afternoon. I'm learning what works best for me to get quality sleep, and I'm documenting this entire journey.

I don't intend to share everything that happened while I was in the hospital, but I stayed for a total of 5 days. I was more scared this time around than the first. There were moments when I truly thought I would stop breathing. However, God is good and He has allowed me to continue to live.

And with that, I start my gratitude list:

• Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to breathe, live, and recover. He has given me a community that loves, cares, and prays for me. And most importantly, thank you for giving me your salvation. During those moments I thought I was going to stop breathing, I had no doubt that I would go to Heaven. Thank you, Lord, for giving me peace and purpose.

• Thank you, Mom, Dad, and Papa, for your support. I don't think words can express just how grateful I am for my parents. All three of them are smart, and for the most part, understand health. Thank you for giving me access to a great team of healthcare providers. My parents are providing me a safe haven, studying my sickness so we know how to holistically care and maintain for my health, giving me the space that I need to recover, and loving me with patience.

• Thank you, A-Team, for your friendship. My siblings and I already have a close relationship. But in the midst of my sickness, they truly have become my friends. Thank you for dealing with my shenanigans, for keeping my extroverted self energized, and keeping my spirits high.

• Thank you, Friends, for checking up on me through texting, calling, video calling, snail mails, and your visits. I am so grateful to have so many of you be there for me. I truly didn't expect the kind of love and support that you have all given me; it truly shows me that I have surrounded myself with the right kind of people.

• Thank you, Extended Family & Mom's Facebook friends, you all get an extra shout out. I haven't been checking my mom's posts, but she tells me how many people are giving her input, wishing me well, and praying for me. She has thousands of people on her Facebook, so I can only imagine just how many of you are praying for me. I don't know what else to say, except for a genuine thank you.

• Thank you, my community. There are plenty of you that I am grateful for, and I am thankful to have the privilege to not have the room to list all of you. My church family here and the Philippines, my nursing family, and even strangers. So many of you. Thank you.

I know that at a young age, most of us don't think of death. But we should. The Bible says, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (Proverbs 27:1). We are not guaranteed of tomorrow, and I truly do understand that now. It brings me joy that at my young age, I know that I have lived and am continuing to live a full life. And even more, it brings me joy to know that with death, the Lord has promised me eternal life.

And I get to take this journey as an opportunity to learn more about myself in the most humbling way.

I am beyond blessed.

And with that, thank you everyone. Thank you for joining me in my journey.

- Annika