When Covid Hits Home

While Covid continues to threaten our safety and causes prolonged lockdowns in Cambodia, a progressive vaccination plan is being implemented in the country including for children aged 12 to under 18.  It’s good news to hear that vaccination clinics are popping up including the district where our work is – Bakong, allowing children to receive their vaccine, helping stop the spread of the deadly virus.   ​

Even with taking all precautions and doing our part to mitigate the spread, efforts are not a guarantee. PeopleStories student, “Sopheak” (student would like to remain anonymous and Sopheak is our given name for this story), found this out first-hand when after visiting a neighbour's house to buy food and two days later heard the neighbour was positive. Sopheak has fully recovered from Covid and says he is feeling good. 
  
Receiving a Covid diagnosis can be an unsettling experience and Sopheak agreed that’s how it was for him and that he was worried about his studies, and especially worried about family. When asked how his friends and family reacted to his Covid situation Sopheak shared, "I told my friends that live with me but the first time I didn't tell my family or teachers because they worried about me. When they knew about my situation they motivated me, made me happy and took care of me. I feel very happy." ​

Sopheak would like to share these thoughts with those that may be dealing with Covid right now, "please take care of your health, wear a mask, use sanitizer, keep a distance, and stay safe. Remember to stay home, love yourself and others. Thank you so much." ​

Our PeopleStories volunteer Hannah from UK, also tested positive. Hannah reports she is now "feeling pretty much 100% better."  Similar to Sopheak, Hannah had family and friends she was concerned about after her Covid diagnosis. Self-isolating is a practise that can make anyone go a little stir crazy but Hannah says she’s “thankful for supportive friends, who would facetime me during isolation period and that helped me feel better.” 
  
Hannah says that although she has a lack of energy all other symptoms have gone. "I had flu like symptoms and lost my smell and taste. I couldn't get out of bed for about a week. I also had a tight feeling in my chest for about two weeks.” 
  
Hannah shared that she doesn't have any health conditions and had her first vaccine dose about a month before she tested positive. Hannah continues, "During my recovery time I was most worried about getting long Covid and the symptoms not going away. I also had a lot of anxiety the week I came out of isolating. I think the most difficult thing about getting Covid was the anxiety of the unknown. You read about all these horror stories and you think that could be me." 
  
We're so happy Hannah has recovered and doing well. She shared, "My advice would be to make sure you are taking care of yourself and talking to people. I have been slowly getting back to exercise although I have a lack of energy but this has slowly come back. I would say the anxiety that Covid can give you is not spoken about enough. So definitely talk about your feelings and get some help if you need it." ​

It’s important to talk and share our stories. It’s comforting to know we’re not alone, in whatever we may be going through. Many thanks to student Sopheak and volunteer Hannah for sharing their Covid experiences.  Wishing you both good health and continue to build your strength. 
 
Are you or have friends or families suffering from Covid?  We are here to listen just like a friend.  Please feel free to drop us a note at Team@PeopleStoriesCharity.org. 
 
Story written by: Volunteer Kathy Aunkst ​