Back in December, I was hospitalized for pneumonia-related Covid-19, which I have been recovering from ever since. I am now officially classified as a Covid survivor. With every breath I take, I am reminded of others who are currently battling this menacing disease. My family and I are extremely fortunate that I was able to survive this dreadful illness, and I am incredibly grateful for all of the true heroes, doctors and nurses, as well as true friends who supported and encouraged me to fight on.
While I am mostly functional, in many ways, I continue to operate below the normal capacity level. Several weeks ago, I felt strong enough to go on long walks, but I managed to work in just under a mile before the post-exertional malaise came on: brain fog, fatigue, palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath. As a formerly energetic and competitive person in both work and personal life, the impact of this disease managed to turn my world around upside down. There is always a high risk of developing post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), a condition that can include an acquired weakness, cognitive or dysfunction and other health related disorders.