Jana
“When the pandemic began, my family was already in caregiver mode for my mom, who’d been left with speech and mobility impairments after a massive stroke. At the same time, I was working as an advocate for older Canadians, so I was living and breathing up-to-the-minute COVID information. Between my mom, my kids, and the people who depended on me professionally, I spent a lot of time worrying. I was worrying about literally everyone but myself.
Even when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, though I knew on a professional level that it put me at greater risk for COVID, my mentality was still focused on thinking about everyone else first. Fortunately, that meant treating every precaution — from masks to distancing to vaccination — like an absolute duty. Few families were as hyper-vigilant.
And so I made it to 2023 without catching COVID once. By that time, my mom had sadly passed and my husband Ivan had begun volunteering at a long-term care facility. Eventually, despite all the PPE, Ivan brought COVID home. It was certainly no fun for him, but he got through it. Then I started showing the telltale symptoms as well. But it hit me so much harder.
The fatigue was crushing, the cough relentless. I was barely able to move or think. I’ve always been especially susceptible to respiratory infections, but this was worse than anything I’d ever experienced. I kept waiting for it to turn the corner, but it never did. At Ivan’s insistence, I sought out an antiviral treatment available to those who’ve tested positive for COVID. Within 24 hours, I started to feel better.
And so, when I caught COVID for a second time later that year, there was zero hesitation. I had a plan and I sought out the same antiviral treatment immediately. The truth is everyone still needs to be thinking about and planning around COVID, especially for those of us with conditions like diabetes or asthma that make us much more vulnerable. “Endemic” doesn’t mean “ended.” COVID is still here, and I don’t think it’s ever really going away. Having a plan can make all the difference, whether it’s getting vaccinated or exploring post-infection treatment options.”
Ivan
“I guess you could call me a second-generation caregiver. When I was a child, my mother was my grandmother’s primary caregiver, and I helped from an early age, finding it both rewarding and humbling. So, when Jana’s mother Gayle needed care after her stroke, and later when my father’s Alzheimer’s progressed, the caregiving role came naturally. It was just in me.
In 2021, Jana was diagnosed with diabetes and I found myself reaching for the caregiver hat again, thinking about how best to safeguard her health. Then, accompanying Jana on a hospital visit, I was struck by the grace of the staff in their full PPE, but also by how obviously overwhelmed they were. I started volunteering as soon as I could.
In hospitals and long-term care homes, I met so many wonderful people and I saw how much difference a little help could make. But I also saw how quickly COVID could take things away. People with full mobility and autonomy were knocked down by this disease and suddenly unable to walk or even pick up a phone. Often those abilities never returned.
When I tested positive myself, my first thought was of Jana. I knew I could handle getting sick, but I couldn’t handle seeing her take that hit because of me, especially being immunocompromised from diabetes and having a history of respiratory illness. But sure enough, just as I started feeling better, Jana started showing symptoms.
It hit her like a monster. Her cough was so intense, I could feel it viscerally. By the time she got the antiviral treatment, I think we were very close to hospitalization. But she turned a corner so quickly. It was incredible to see the way she bounced right back. And so, the second time she got COVID, we had a plan and stuck to it.
Having seen what Jana and others went through, I want everyone to know there are options when it comes to COVID. Caregiving has taught me there’s always something proactive you can do to make a difference. That conviction has changed the trajectory of my own life. I’ve returned to school and I’m changing careers to focus on health care and disability. Because for me, caregiving is no longer just a circumstance, it’s a calling.”
Know whether you have a high-risk factor for severe COVID-19, and be ready with an action plan. And, if you get infected, act quickly and speak to your health care provider about possible treatment options. To learn more, visit www.knowplango.ca.
This initiative was supported by Pfizer Canada ULC.
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