On Staying Home

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You know how, when you get the common cold, it's super annoying, and you feel crummy, but life still has to go on, and everyone gets them, so you can't really even complain? 

Yeah, that's what killed my mom.  

My mom died from the common cold.  The obnoxious annoying runny nose and cough that most of us easily work through, quickly recover from, and usually beat multiple times a year. It took one cold in the year 2019 to begin the rapid timeline of my mom's passing.  One cold that, for her MS-weakened body, quickly turned into pneumonia, which again, is something that we healthy people regularly recover from. But for my mom's immunocompromised body, it was too much. On January 8th, 2019, Jesus brought his good and faithful servant home, handed over to Him by her husband and children.  She was only 59.

I know many people aren't afraid of COVID-19.  I know many people think that those staying home are just living in fear. I know many people have the attitude of "I'm sure I'll get it and be fine". And I'm sure you will.  It might be annoying to quarantine, you might feel crummy, and you'll probably recover quickly. 

But not everyone will.  My mom died from complications from the common cold and COVID-19 is a heck of a lot more dangerous. I guarantee you I never planned on sitting in an ICU conference room making end of life decisions.  There is trauma in watching your loved one die prematurely.  And I was fortunate enough to be with her as she took her last breaths, a blessing that many people currently don't have.

Why am I staying home? Why am I choosing to miss important events? Why am I keeping my kids home?Why am I wearing a mask?  Because I won't risk your loved one's life. 

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