What I Learned from Catching Covid

It was Sunday morning when it arrived at our house. Despite vaccinating and doing our best to avoid it, my wife had tested positive for covid. We have been particularly careful to avoid covid because I am immunocompromised and have had a lung transplant. I'm at high risk for severe complications. For two years, we successfully managed the risks, but now covid was in our house.

Like many families, we tried to navigate the balance between infection risk and managing the day-to-day life of a household. The next day, despite our best efforts, I contracted covid as well. While covid can be dangerous for anyone, it is particularly so for me because I am immunocompromised and have had a lung transplant. I knew I had to act fast to do what I could to improve my odds of successfully battling the virus.

Resilience is often framed as "bouncing back" from something. In reality, it is much more complex and often involves being proactive. Here are the three actions I took perhaps can serve you as they translate to any obstacle we encounter.

1. Acknowledge Quickly: Often we make a problem worse by ignoring it. As soon as my wife tested positive for covid, we know we had to tests the family regularly. That allowed me to identify when I caught it immediately and begin treating it. I was able to receive an antibody treatment that is only useful when used in the first 5 days. If I had delayed facing the reality of being positive, I may have missed that window. Consider how many issues have ever improved by ignoring them or procrastinating?
2. Summon Resources: When going into battle, it's best to be armed. Resourcefulness is critical to your success in overcoming any obstacle. What tools do you need to fight what you are facing? Do you have what you need? Where can you find what you are missing? Upon learning I had covid, I immediately contacted my transplant center and family doctor to see if the antibody treatment I read about might be accessible. It was, but I never would have received it without asking the right questions to the right people. What questions do you need to ask? Who do you need to talk to?
3. Take Action: Quickly acknowledging the issue is important, but it does little good if you then delay in doing something about it. Once you have the resources you need, use them. Take action. In my case, after reaching out to the professionals, I received a call that I could get the IV infusion if I could go to the hospital. I knew that meant going to the ER where I would likely wait a long time. It wasn't the best time. But I knew a delay could mean missing my opportunity. So I told the caller I would be there in 30 minutes. How often do we miss opportunities, make problems worse, simply by doing nothing? What action do you need to take now? What are you waiting for?

I hope these tools are helpful for you. Whether you are facing covid or something in your business. Principles are principles, they don't change.

As I close this, I have to say how grateful I am for the healthcare heroes who continue to show up to work under the worst of circumstances, and provide quality care even when it poses a personal risk to themselves. Everyone I encountered yesterday not only provided excellent care but did it with kindness and compassion. To everyone working in healthcare whether you carry a stethoscope or a broom to work, you are truly remarkable.