Friends! I have hesitated to publish this, but I think it’s time I share this with you all. I worried about overwhelming everyone as I felt we were already suffering covid fatigue because of the amount of time it’s been in our lives.
On Nov 2nd we received the news that my husband had tested positive for COVID-19. We were not surprised when the result finally came as he was sick, and I was already experiencing heavy symptoms. In the following days myself and our two kids also tested positive and all four of us were sick with varying degrees of symptoms ranging from mild to medium, we are all extremely healthy with no underlying conditions. It still hit us pretty hard and all at once. I can’t begin to describe to you some of the fear that my husband and I felt knowing that if one of us worsened or one of our girls had to be hospitalised there would be nothing we could do except fight through our own sickness at the same time and hope for the best. Not being able to sit beside your sick child because you yourself are knocked out is horrible and not what we are used to.
As of today, I still have TOTAL loss of smell and taste and Jeff has thankfully recently been cleared with chest x-rays and heart tests that came back in his favour as he has had lingering breathing and heart racing symptoms which are now starting to improve. The girls are doing well although Jade also still has partial smell and taste loss.
On Nov 12th I decided to interview my entire family while we were still going through COVID, I finally published it today. I also talk about the bizarre symptom that I haven’t told many about that I had at the beginning of my journey that caused me a lot of pain - not sure if I’ll post pics of that one.
I want you all to know that our message is clear: With the rising numbers world-wide you may have already contracted COVID or been identified as a close contact to someone who has, if you’re lucky you may have so far escaped it personally. No matter what your situation has been or what your beliefs are on the subject, please be kind. Understand that many people won’t have the outcome we had. Many have already lost loved ones, and many will suffer. Do the right thing, isolate when you are required to, get tested, and stay home if you are sick.
Please use the amazing technology we have to check in on your loved ones and friends instead of arguing with people online who have the polar opposite view to you.
There was a moment during our COVID journey where I almost lost faith in humanity. I don’t want to lose faith in my community, friends and family because I love you all too much for that.
I am hoping that sharing our story will help you to not feel alone, but instead feel supported and loved. Whether you have been directly affected by a COVID diagnosis or secondarily by the downfall of economy or loneliness of isolation we hear and love you all. I completely understand that this is a complex situation, but division will not help us to defeat it.
Thank you to those who reached out and offered your help, love and support while we journeyed through this. I hope we all continue to do that for each other as this journey is far from over anytime soon.
When we were all diagnosed the numbers in Alberta were almost 4 times smaller than they are today. And that was only 4 weeks ago.
We Love You All
xoxo The Janzen’s
