Episode 10. Marilyn in Arizona

In this episode I talk to Marilyn in Phoenix, Arizona. Marilyn is a science teacher and her husband works in science research. She talks about knowing how bad COVID was going to be and the choices her family made at the beginning of the pandemic to keep everyone safe. And they did such a good job. Despite all their efforts, Marilyn's family got COVID.

Marilyn lost her mother to COVID in March of 2021 after a long hospital stay. This episode really got me and even now as I write this I am struck by the time and love Marilyn gave to her mother. Her mom spent quite a long time in the hospital on a ventilator and Marilyn took the time to read to her and talk to her via Facetime even though her mom could not talk back.

One thing, among many, that stands out in this interview is that Marilyn pushed for her mother to be retested for COVID after she'd spent weeks in the COVID ICU and when that test came back negative, her mother was moved and her family was able to visit her in person in the hospital. I learn so much from every guest on the show and Marilyn was no different.

For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on September 24, 2021.

Marilyn mentions COVID Connections. You can find information on those support groups here: https://covidsurvivorsforchange.org/survivor-resources/

She also mentioned the Marked by COVID network. You can find out more about them here: https://www.markedbycovid.com/

Marilyn wrote a beautiful tribute to her mom and sent it to me. Because tomorrow is Thanksgiving and Marilyn's mom was devoted to her family, I wanted to share what she wrote here:

What is there to say about losing the singular most important person in your life?

I’ll start off by sharing the note I would give to the ICU nurses and staff:

Dear Nurses and ICU staff,

All nurses and the one’s caring for my mother Maria in room number 219. She’s a sweet lady that loves to spend time with her grandkids. She always would start conversations with anyone and everyone and always tried to leave that person feeling seen, cared for, and happy. My mom is that type of person. We would like nothing more in this world to keep Maria in this world as she truly is someone who makes it a better place and helps others.

Thank you for all that you do. I am well aware of the circumstances you each are working in everyday as I have family members who are in the medical field nationwide. Our nation wouldn’t be surviving this pandemic without each and every one of you and the effort you put forth each day. You all are true real life heroes.

I hope you can enjoy this small token of appreciation I have for each and every one of you. COVID friendly air hug and hand to the heart in immense gratitude,

Maria Alcoba (room 219), her daughter Marilyn Raming, and the rest of our family and friends.

It was important that the nurses and people caring for my mother knew the type of person she was and how much she meant to us. It makes it more humanizing and not just another person in the ICU. I would always make a point to share a story about my mother to the nurses caring for my mother.

My brother, father, and I did everything we could to oversee my mothers care. We never thought we could’ve contracted COVID since we were all so careful and so close to receiving our vaccines. We all got COVID around mid-January. Around that time my mother would our children, Harrison and Logan, since I was teaching virtually. I saw my mother feel more fatigued as the days progressed, Wren decided to get tested since we were feeling quite off as a family. We got the news that we all had contracted COVID the evening of January 17th. I was worried about my