Staying Safe as Our Future Remains Uncertain

As the weather continues to grow hotter, our summers which are normally chock full of nonstop fun with friends and family, look much different this year. With many parts of the U.S. once again pulling back on reopening orders and closing restaurants and other places deemed “hot spots” for the coronavirus, we continue to navigate together through the uncertainty that this year, and our future, holds.

Last month, I shared with you that my husband Ken had suffered from a heart attack after a visit to the doctor to check his enzyme levels. Due to COVID-19, I was unable to visit him inside the hospital, and I know that millions across the world are currently suffering the same fate. Thankfully, Ken is continuing his slow road to recovery, but it still remains complicated by his CIDP issues. We have nurses and physical therapists coming by regularly as we wait for his strength to return.

As grateful as I am once again to be able to act as a caregiver inside of our home, it is also a life or death matter for us. COVID-19 cases are back on the rise with some states seeing double digits in the thousands each day as many people continue to become more lenient, tired of being cooped up since the virus’s beginnings here in mid-March. However, the virus is real and it’s not getting any better, infecting thousands by the minute and tearing families, communities and countries apart.

We each need to be diligent about doing our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Just because you are young and healthy does not mean you are immune to getting the virus! In fact, Dr. Anthony Fauci recently said that the average age of coronavirus patients in America has dropped by 15 years. To date, over three million Americans have been infected with over 130,000 resulting in death. We need to protect ourselves and protect those, like Ken, who are most at risk. And, we need to not put ourselves at risk – every hospital bed used for a coronavirus patient is one less available for anyone else who needs it such as a heart attack sufferer or a car crash victim.

Wearing a face mask is SO important as it just takes a few droplets from an infected person to land in your nose or mouth in order to catch the virus. Recently, it was reported that if 95% of all Americans wore masks when out in public, we could prevent over 30,000 deaths by the start of October! Remember - everyone’s body responds differently to the virus, with some people showing no symptoms at all. And, even worse, as many survivors are now experiencing, possible long-term complications could affect us the rest of our lives. Even if your state isn’t mandating the use of face masks, please wear one for the sake of your own health and those around you who are most vulnerable.

Lastly, I want to remind everyone - if you think you feel sick, please stay home. If you must go out, practice social distancing whenever possible. Just because certain stores or public attractions have reopened does not mean the pandemic has ended – in fact, it’s just the opposite! Remember, you can still support local businesses by ordering online or taking advantage of curbside pickup and delivery from restaurants in your area.

Right now is also the ideal time to get organized and have all of your medical records in one place – and the same goes for your loved ones! Spend a couple hours this weekend collecting these critical documents including notes on recent doctor visits and prescription information, and upload them into the Digital LifeCloud? at www.digitallifecloud.com. There is also a free downloadable PDF Chronological Health History form available for even simpler tracking. We have all observed that this virus is truly unpredictable and we ALL need to be prepared in case of emergencies. Together, we can save lives.

Wishing you all good health and an end to the pandemic!

Remember Debby’s 3 G’s – Get Informed, Get Organized, Get Moving!?