So I beat COVID right? To think about beating COVID to some may be unthinkable and unattainable but to me it was attainable and very possible and now it is a story that I will share with my future grandchildren. I can see it now sitting in my easy chair and my future grandchildren sitting on the floor around me asking Grandfather tell us again the story about the pandemic and how you beat COVID. Tell us of how your generation made it through those times and as I tell the story once again I think on how different it could have been. You see there was many of nights that the battle could have been lost the same way I could have lost the battle to kidney disease and others things in my life but yet I am here, sharing my story with you the reader.
Where does this story go and how far will it go? I am not sure but if this story can encourage one of you and give hope to the hopeless than it was worth walking the valley of COVID though one experience is enough for me.
Once quarantine was over it was good to get out of the house, and to get back to my normal routine. Once back to work I checked into when would I be able to get the vaccine, since I am a frontline worker, the COVID vaccine was offered to me before I went out sick and so once back it was on my list of things to get done as quickly as possible. Before I signed up to receive the vaccine, a discussion with my transplant team was in order to discuss the pros and cons. In this discussion, we talked about what the vaccine, possible side effects, how effected would it be and so on. At the end of the conversation it was agreeable that getting the vaccine would be more beatifical than not to get the vaccine.
So once my date was schedule I called my wife and told her that it was scheduled and it seemed the light was starting to break through the clouds that had been so long over not only us but the world.
January 1, 2021- A New Year and Beginning
As I woke up in the New Year, this was the day that I was scheduled to get the first dose of the vaccine. What a way to start of the new year! As I traveled to the location to get the vaccine there was a sense of excitement in the air along with a side of nervousness but also thought about what did the first dialysis patient think when dialysis was offered to them? How did the first transplant patients feel when transplant became available? I am sure they felt nervous, scared for it was unknown territory but also thought about hope for a greater tomorrow for themselves and those that may follow behind them. Those that took the leap of faith so to speak I call them trailblazers. They paved the way so others that may be traveling the same path can find the way and travel to the next peak. As I sat down for the vaccine to be administered, the tears started to well up in my eyes, for it felt as though I was a part of something bigger, that there was hope for a greater tomorrow and most importantly that I did my part to help my fellow man.
Once it was over, I sat at the clinic for 15 minutes and then went home. Did I have a reaction you ask? There was little fever, sore arm and I was a little tired but not even close to what the COVID brought on. Does getting the vaccine make a difference? Only time will tell but I trust and believe that it has, it will and will be written in the history books of tomorrow.
In the next couple weeks I will be writing about the second vaccine and wrapping up this part of my story. So stay tuned and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any new and exciting content.
Stay encouraged along your journey, you are one step closer to the next peak.
Kidney Trails 