Life in the Time of Corona

I just finished watching a youtube video on how a doctor has figured out how to use a few connectors and extra tubing to use one ventilator for four patients. It’s off label, but good to know if hospitals get overwhelmed with patients with lung involvement. The availability of ventilators is a prime concern based on how things have developed in Italy.

All this is good to know…for medical professionals. Probably not super important for a stay-at-home mom with zero ventilators in her possession.

Guys, I might be spiraling in this time of corona.

On the one hand, our life doesn’t look that different. Me and the kiddos are usually home all the time. We cancelled our few plans and hunkered down. We already homeschool, so no problem. We aren’t out of our comfort zone at all.

On the other hand, Cee and my dad are both in the category of people who would potentially struggle with exposure to the corona virus. Keeping them healthy is a prime concern. Plus as a family whose single income is based on commissions, this whole situation is a little anxiety-inducing. Just how long will we be without work?

Ultimately I just want everyone to be okay.
– The kids for whom school is their safe place and are home indefinitely.
– The parents who are trying to work from home AND keep their kids alive.
– The people like my dad or Cee who are already fighting health battles.
– The small business owners who might not survive a shut-down.
– The single mothers earning an hourly wage who are laid-off unexpectedly.
– The family who didn’t plan ahead and is down to their last roll of TP.
– The doctors, nurses, and emergency professionals who are keeping us safe at their own risk.

I’ve tried to pray and be aware of the bigger picture, but the memes saying “God’s got this” aren’t doing it for me. We aren’t the first people to face a hard time, and we won’t be the last. (Unless you believe Karen’s friend’s pastor who is all up in the Imminent Rapture Club.)

After all, it can be simultaneously true that “God’s got this” AND there’s going to be a lot of suffering. There is no guarantee that everything will be fine, except in the cosmic sense. I’m not poo-pooing the cosmic sense fine, it’s just that there are vulnerable people who might feel the pinch in the mean time.

Things might get really hard for my family. For yours. For other people. And that hurts my heart. Is that fear? Worry? I suppose so.

In case you’re a little spiraling, too, here’s my plan to squelch the worry enough to function:

1. Limit my media consumption. No more ventilator videos, and generally less scrolling.
2. Revisit my 100 Little Things list and make some headway.
3. Offer up my anxiety and worry for those people I’m worried about.
4. Pray the Jesus Prayer: Calm Down Edition. (Breathe in while thinking, “Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,” then breathe out while thinking “have mercy on me, a sinner.” Repeat, repeat, repeat.)
5. Look my kids in the eye. It’s hard to think about ventilators when I’m extremely present for my family.

There are a lot of question marks out there, folks. Cee is due at the hospital March 23rd for her next infusion. What will it be like then? If the number of infected people doubles every 2.5 days…

Annnnnd back to step # 4 it is.

We’re all in this together. Like Mr. Rogers told us, we can find some peace in keeping our eyes open for the helpers in the world. And they’re out there. Let’s be sequestered helpers, people, however we can.

One way to help each other is to share ideas.

1, How are you squelching the worry?
2. Have you found a way to be a sequestered helper?
3. What are some lighthearted ways you’re passing the time?

1. See above.
2. I offer up my suffering (however trivial!) for the families facing corona-inspired changes.
3. Might I suggest Flirty Dancing and Postmodern Jukebox ?

That’s the best I’ve got so far. I look forward to seeing what other ideas are out there.