P R E A C H E R W I F E
L A D Y P A M E L A H E L T O N
YES, I, (WE), SUFFERED FROM COVID-19 TOO!
Many times, as “preachers” wives, we want
to put on our Sunday morning faces, attitudes
and outfits. We want the world to think
that all is well and that we are just perfect.
Sometimes people even think that we are
“superhumans” but we are not. We are all
vulnerable and capable of being subjected
to and affected by whatever is going on
in the world. Guess what ladies, such is the
case with this clear and present danger, this
invisible disease, COVID.
I write this article as a testament of God’s
mercy and His grace. It is my prayer that
someone will be helped and encouraged
from it. COVID 19 is treacherous. It is
nondiscriminatory and invades wherever
it can find a vulnerable opening. Because
my husband and I are senior citizens, we
took extra precautions and followed the
CDC guidelines closely. We always wear
masks, wash our hands, use hand sanitizer,
social distance ourselves, we take our
vitamins, and we only go out when
necessary. Our church has not met as a
body since March and our church offices are
limited to only one staff member during the
week. We do not host super spreader events.
Out of my parents nine children, my siblings
would tell you that I am the healthiest of all.
At 71, I am blessed to say that I suffer from
none of the usual ailments that many African
Americans suffer from.
No hypertension, no diabetes, no heart disease
and no I have never been prescribed glasses.
I rarely have headaches, flu, sinus issues or
even a simple cold. So, when my husband
and I began to feel sick several weeks ago,
we knew something serious was going on.
We first assumed that we had the flu and
began taking Theraflu. Oh, my goodness, that
made matters worse. We decided to go and
get tested for COVID and within 24 hours
our positive results were back!
We were told to quarantine at home, take
Mucinex, extra strength Tylenol, vitamin
D, vitamin B and C, zinc, Gatorade, and
get plenty of rest. Plenty of rest is an
understatement because COVID-19 puts
you flat on your back and there is nothing
else that you can do but rest. Your mind may
tell you that you ought to be doing this or that,
but your body will say, “You can’t go anywhere
or do anything.” Your body will tell you “I am
on lockdown until further notice.” We both
felt like we had been hit by a Mack truck
multiple times over.
The weight came off so fast because we lost
our sense of taste and smell. On most days
I thought I had turned into a deer temporarily.
Everything that I put in my mouth taste either
like a block of salt or a block of sugar!
Besides not being able to eat, the exhaustion
was unreal! No energy to get out of the bed,
to wash your face or to even sit up in bed.
When I tried to walk to the bathroom or
kitchen, I had to cling to the walls and hurry
to get back in bed so that I would not hit
the floor. The headaches that come with
COVID are “migraine powered,” and
intended to make you cry, and you
will.
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