Why I was social distancing before you did

I have been social distancing much before the official quarantine had started all over Canada. My family started what I like to call a “sickness loop”. First, my son Luc got sick in February, which is completely normal for a toddler that attends daycare. I had to be absent from college for a week to take care of his 39 degrees celsius, with flu and throat infection. Then my husband got the same throat infection the following week. The week after that I got the same throat infection as well and mild flu symptoms. At the same time, our boy had otitis. My son got healthy while I developed stronger influenza symptoms. By this time, my presence at the walk-in clinic was normal as my absence at Seneca, I couldn’t breathe properly and had to do a Covid-19 test at the hospital on my second visit.

That is why I was already isolating myself for some days as a common procedure for those who do the Coronavirus disease test when the Prime Minister gave the first pronunciation. Many weeks later my results came negative revealing I had bronchitis and Influenza-19. The first week I took care alone of our child while my husband had to go work. 

But a week later my husband started his quarantine with us because he is at the group with severe risk. Our doctor alerted his high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems put him in danger in case of contamination. Life-threatening is the right word.

We are dealing it with a lot of routines: time to have lunch, staying in the garden as much as we can as a relief while living in a tiny basement, following the sleeping schedule of Luc while diversifying activities, being in touch with our families and friend constantly and every day through video calls, cooking and listening to music or singing. Some days are better than others. Sometimes we cannot avoid a strong feeling of anxiety. But I know it is better to stay months in confinement than possibly bringing a virus that can put the well-being of my loved ones in danger. Especially when you share your life with someone with a prior condition. 

Luana Saturnino