By John Robert

I’d like to say I won, but knowing that Covid may want a rematch without warning and that Covid doesn’t need to train, could change its fighting style at any time, and just doesn’t fight fair made me revisit re-think my Covid views. 

Prior to my 2^nd time but 1^st official bout with Covid, I was not a fan of the vaccination, a.k.a. ‘The Jab.’ Although I was lumped in with the “Anti-Vaxxers,” I didn’t share all their views. I simply believed that no one should be able to force you to take the vaccination, nor should ‘They’ be allowed to make your personal life or work life uncomfortable, with the only remedy for relief being the vaccination. There is way too much we don’t know about this ‘rushed to market’ drug that, after two years, still hadn’t proved itself to be effective.

Are there any short- or long-term effects? Does it REALLY stop the Coronavirus? Will it exacerbate any underlying health issues? Are you able to build up antibodies? No one could seem to give a consistent answer to any of these questions. During the onset of the pandemic in November 2019, I became ill. I’d say one step down from this recent bout with Covid I had in 2021-22. I went to my doctors’ office, urgent care, and emergency room several times but was sent home after my flu test(s) came back negative. There wasn’t a Covid test at this time. So, with my fever which lasted for weeks, my chills and body aches that seemed never to cease, my loss of appetite, and difficulty in breathing, there was nothing you could say to make me believe that I didn’t have Covid, once I learned that Covid even existed of course. As far I was concerned, that shot down my theory that you build up antibodies to fight the Coronavirus by merely contracting and surviving Covid. My proof, my research, the ‘science’ behind my theory?

On December 27th, 2021, after weeks of feeling bad and fighting off with what I thought maybe a cold, I tested positive for Covid. I felt horrible between December 23rd and December 27th, 2021, the same symptoms I felt in 2019 times ten. Those around me could see my health was declining. My breathing began to become shallow. I began to lose weight because I stopped eating and drinking. I had an ongoing fever and chills that made me shake so hard that I felt like I could break a bone. I still gave not one thought to the vaccination. 

After I tried every home remedy I could Google, I asked to go to the ER, which is a miracle in itself. I sat for over 6 hours alone, scared to breathe, scared to move, and scared that I’d die in the ER before being seen. I was admitted, given fluids, and sent home. Less than 48 hours later, I was back in the ER again, praying not to die, contradicting the prayers I prayed after every other breath. The pain in my lungs hurt so bad that I no longer focused on how little air I could draw in, which made me feel like I was suffocating. The pain from simply breathing made me pray for a quick death. I didn’t want to be one of those who suffered. 

I had an Angel with me who suffered my anger, my second-guessing her, the lack of support from even my own family, and of course my Covid-ignorance, and through this assisted me in getting through the emergency room ordeal, researched and helped me qualify for Remdesivir (Covid fighting antiviral medication).

Recap. Fighting for a breath, to pain with every breath. Unable to eat to continuous pain in my abdomen all day and night, whether I ate or not. Fevers left me in puddles of sweat, yet I would shiver and shake uncontrollably. Headaches that I could feel in my sleep. They hurt so bad that my hair hurt. I didn’t even want my pillow to touch it. These are just some of the physical attributes of my bout with Covid. The mental aspects like the fear of Covid, the fear of being alone in the waiting room and the hospital, the fear of ‘The Jab”, the fear of dying because you didn’t take ‘The Jab’. This fear will last beyond the fight.

I still think that it should be your choice. But for me, if taking the vaccination has a 1% chance of keeping me from living what I have lived through twice, then sign me up. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.