COVID-19 journey

As the year 2022 started, everyone is looking forward to a beautiful, healthy and prosperous life. I celebrated the new year with my mom, older brother, two younger brothers and my older sister. We prepared seafood for our media Noche and deserts. My mother made a prosperity bowl and threw money all over the house because it has been our family tradition even when my father is still alive.

After that, we had the chance to eat, sing in Videoke and take pictures for memories. Then came January 2 when my brother was supposed to start working at his company on site. He had a swab test as one of the requirements. He received the result by January 3, and he is positive. He opted to be home quarantined and none of us went out anymore. It was a two-week home quarantine where I'm the only one working since my mom, older sister and older brother are supposed to work on site, while I on the other hand as a teacher, has online classes.

My family said that it was two long weeks while it was too short for me because I'm busy at work. None of us is allowed to go out for 10 days. I and the rest of the family are not asked to for swab test anymore as long we followed the home quarantine protocol. After a week, by January 11, my sister has to be swabbed for her job. They were asking for proof that my sister is in home isolation.

Later that night, the result was positive so we had to extend the 10 day quarantine into another 10 days. We were unable to attend my nephew's 13th birthday as well as the appointments set which are job related and personal errands. There was a contact tracing done and someone calls to check on our family any time of the day for during the whole duration of our home quarantine.

At first, we actually thought that it was just seasonal flu but turns out it was COVID-19. I did not tell anyone about it except anyone who reads it. My older brother was the first one to have flu like symptoms without fever. Then my younger brother who sleeps on the same room as our older brother but he had a fever. He was shivering and it lasted for 3 days. Then my youngest brother, my older sister and my mother who had coughs and colds.

I was the only one who never had any symptoms. I was asymptomatic even though I was not tested. It was a blessing that all of us are adults on our house and that we were all fully vaccinated. My mom and I had our flu vaccine as well way back December 31 before my siblings tested positive for COVID-19.

We also have money to sustain our daily needs. Our refrigerator was full, we have rice, vitamins and we can still enjoy the sun in our house through our window. My sister was able to receive her salary as well as me. We have everything that we needed inside our house because my mom had a grocery shopping even before December 31.

My family felt like it was a long two weeks while for me, it is still the same. Maybe because I have things to do and keep myself occupied. Plus the fact that none of us had severe symptoms. We are indeed blessed and protected by God.

We don't know where we got the virus since none of us goes out if the house unless necessary like grocery shopping, visit to the dentist or taking care of important papers.

You have to keep yourself safe so you can keep your family safe as well. Boost your immune system, sleep early, exercise, enjoy life more and most importantly never take your life for granted.

I thank God the most for healing our whole family and keeping us safe. We praise God for allowing us to still be alive, back to work and online class as well as the opportunity to make everyone aware that COVID-19 should not be taken lightly.

Keep safe everyone!

Love_16

February 8, 2022

Tuesday