Benita - Cicero, Illinois
Benita has had a hard time not being able to hug her grandchildren, pictured here.
Occupation: Accountant
What Covid-19 related restrictions are in place where you live? Stay-at-home order and only non-essential businesses remain open.
What has been your biggest challenge during this crisis so far? It's hard explaining to my 5 year old grandson and my 4 year old granddaughter that I cannot go see them. Also, my sister has had a fever for over a week and has been having difficulty breathing. Although her primary doctor sent her to the hospital to get tested for COVID-19, she was not able to be tested because there are not enough test kits. I am considered high risk due to medical conditions. Trying to prevent getting infected while living with my sister has been our priority.
Describe the emotions you/your family are feeling through this crisis? We have taken all the precautions to not get infected. Dealing with my sister's COVID-19 symptoms and the inability to get her tested has been very trying. I was angry for several days because the news reports famous people getting tested that are younger and healthier than her, but there are not enough kits for her to get tested. It was very challenging for me.
What are you doing to help cope? I video call my grandchildren and we talk, and laugh and I watch them play. I share reliable information with my pastor. I have been keeping in contact with family and friends check up on them. Before my sister got sick I was asking if high risk friends and family needed anything from the stores. Also, very important is laughter and supporting each other.
If you have a religious background, how has this crisis affected your faith: I have kept in touch with my pastor and our church and friends have been praying for my sister and I. He has been so supportive as usual and has been helping us deal with this.
Have you seen any small victories in all of this for you or your family? : Before I quarantined myself, watching my grandchildren practice the safety measures I showed them about using the hand sanitizer, washing their hands while singing the Happy Birthday song twice and drying their hands with paper towels was a victory. They carry their own sanitizer in their jackets and use it regularly. If they remain healthy then I can deal with everything else.
To share your story of how you’ve been affected by Covid-19, click here.