COVID: One Year, Two Perspectives

It has been one year since the spread of the COVID-19 virus was declared a global pandemic, thereby changing our lives forever.

That means one year of wearing masks when we go out, socially distancing from our loved ones and having parties on Zoom.

With this in mind, psychologist Dr. Denise Morett and nurse practitioner Dr. Stacey Lamar share how the pandemic changed them and those around them.

“During the past year I have watched countless people die, lose family/friends, lose jobs,lose homes and lifestyles,” said Morett. “It has been awful.”

Dr. Lamar wrote in December on her blog for her wellness center, the Source NY & Aura-Soma Studio, about how her two businesses were impacted by the pandemic. She also operates Sadie’s Place, a daytime senior center for the aging.

The latter suffered from a major outbreak recently after months of militantly following mitigation measures. She also witnessed how COVID circulated in her own home.

“Personally, I was gripped by illness and unsure of how well my immune system was going to fight this virus,” she said. Professionally, I was horrified for all the amazing seniors that were now either ill or exposed AND for the INCREDIBLE staff that serve our community each day. Then, my husband falls ill.”

Fortunately, she and those closest to her were able to recover, with her husband having to be hospitalized at one point.

Morett takes comfort in the fact that she was able to stay the course during one of the darkest times in history.

“I’ve realized my resiliency was tested and I was leading and helping at the very time I myself was struggling alongside others,” she said. “I am amazed that I witnessed myself and others finding our way at some of the darkest times in our modern world.”

As someone who normally stays positive, Dr. Lamar found her faith shaken by her COVID diagnosis and the diagnoses of her patients, which compounded the financial turmoil her senior center was already suffering from.

“The community support for our mission has been tremendous, but they too are being tested during this year of shock,” she writes. “My mind is under attack, but things could be worse.”

When her husband returned home from the hospital, she started to regain her faith.

“Life is more uncertain today then yesterday, but I will go with the flow because things could be worse,” she said. “I will put one foot in front of the other because this too shall pass.”

Dr. Morett also has learned to see the light in such darkness. After converting her practice to Telehealth, she has watched as the pandemic has left her clients with an array of emotions, from anger and fear to joy and compassion.

“I’ve learned even more what it means to have a problem and vent while next having a longer view perspective,” she said, “and then see what is possible as opposed to everything that is not.”