When Reality Comes Home

We’ve all been sitting in front of our televisions for weeks, glued to the news, listening to stories about this virus that has wreaked havoc across the globe. We’ve marveled at how quickly it has moved from country to country. Shook our heads at the choices of different governments. We’ve done our best to follow the guidance given to us in order to keep ourselves safe. We’ve stayed indoors, worn gloves, and washed our hands more times that we could imagine. We’ve all kept that small piece of hope and belief that it won’t happen to us.

What do you do when the horror on the news becomes your reality? What do you do when that belief is shattered and this invisible enemy enters into your home? How are you supposed to feel when your loved one is fine one day and the next can’t even get out of bed?

Well, that is my reality. That is my home. Three days ago, this enemy entered into our home and our lives. Three days ago, Andrew began to feel drained and developed a headache he couldn’t seem to shake. That was Saturday. By Sunday morning he could barely get out of bed. It is truly amazing how quickly this virus takes over your body. In one day our entire world was turned upside down.

We took every precaution. We did everything we were supposed to do, and yet here he is, in bed, feeling more ill than he ever has in his entire life. We have two choices – break down and cry, giving into the fear, or keep believing that he will be fine and keep our sense of humor alive. If you know us at all, then you know that we are choosing the second option.

It’s never easy seeing the person you love feeling unwell. However, when it is a situation where so much is unknown, and so much is up in the air, it becomes increasingly more difficult. There is nothing you can do. The reality is, there is nothing anybody can do. Unless, you get to the place where you are literally having trouble breathing, there is nothing that can be done. All you can do is sit and wait. Sit and watch, and pray that it doesn’t get any worse than it already is.

You spend each day feeling like you are holding your breath, waiting for something to happen … Or not to happen. You have no choice but to try to stay upbeat. Because, anything else would mean that you are giving in to your worst fears. You have to be strong. You have to be brave.

We all like to believe that nothing like this is going to happen to us. We like to live in the sort of bubble that allows us to think we are invincible in so many ways. We need this belief so that we can live our lives. Without it, we would never leave the house or do anything. The reality is, it can happen to us. We are not invincible.

The biggest thing I can say to you is this: Stay safe. Take precautions. Stay at home as much as you can.

This is a very real virus. It is terrifying. And Andrew would tell you himself that it’s not funny and you don’t want it.