Our Turn for Covid-19

Doctor at testing site: He’s positive. 

Matty at the PCR testing site.

Me: (shocked - speechless, and a million questions traveling from brain to mouth). 

Matty: Do I have the Virus, Mommy? 

Me: Yes 

Matty: (shocked - speechless, he probably has a million questions, too). 

Exactly one year ago, our country was settling in for two weeks of sheltering in place – whatever that meant. Our new daily vocabulary began to include terms like quarantine, pandemic, flattening the curve, essential workers, lockdown, PPE, social distancing, remote learning, hybrid and WFH (work from home).  

Acquiring a sudden new vocabulary reminds me of becoming a special education parent. We learn and incorporate confusing terms into our daily lives. From IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and CSE (committee on special education), to ABA, ADL, APE, ASD, AT – and these are just some of the abbreviations for the “A terms” – you see what I mean. 

 COVID-19 unexpectedly entered our home a year after it started. It can happen in any family, anytime. 

 Autism is also unexpected, but can happen in any family, anytime. 

First day of symptoms

    For a full year, Matty learned that Covid is something we don’t want to get. 

    And - now he has it. 

    He must have so many questions of his own. 

    In the beginning, it was apraxia that made speaking verbally a challenge for     

    Matty. Now, he's able to speak verbally, but his autism makes it difficult for    

    him to express his deeper feelings fully. He has a lot to say, so many deep    

    thoughts – but he often struggles to find the words to express these deeper    

    feelings, thoughts and questions. 

    

My job is anticipating the deeper questions he might have right now. 

Possible Question (PQ): How did I get the virus -is it my fault? 

A: It’s not your fault that you have the virus, 

PQ: Where did I get it? 

A: We don’t know where you got it. Germs are everywhere.

PQ: Will I get all better? 

A: The doctor says you will feel better in a few days. 

PQ: Mommy when will the virus go away? 

A: Matty this is what everyone in the whole world wishes they knew the answer to. 

PostScript: We are blessed that our family was only mildly affected by Covid-19 - and we honor the pain and suffering of the thousands of families who have lost loved ones over the past year.

Already feeling better & at virtual school