Hugs and Handshakes: What It’s Like To Get And Recover From Covid-19

282 days. That's how many days I worried about COVID-19 before I came down with the illness.

I remember well lunch on March 13, 2020, my last business lunch for many months. People were in a very distressed and even panicked mood at tables around me. It felt like a great illness was about to befall our land.

That feeling was exactly correct.

I spent the ensuing months washing my hands so much they chapped. I tried to be a good human and do everything they told us to do. But somehow, someway, COVID slipped through a crack somewhere and grabbed me around the neck like a thief trying to rob me. Or maybe worse.

I woke up on the morning of December 21, 2020, hoping against hope that what I felt was not in fact the virus. I had body aches, chest congestion and symptoms pretty consistent with what people had been saying who have had the virus. I laid in bed wondering if this was the beginning of end. What would the next two weeks of my life bring? I felt a level of fear but not panic. We would take this one day at a time.

I went to get tested a day later. December 23, I got one of the scariest emails of my life. It was the from one of those “no reply” and very sterile email handles, but it had a very non- sterile answer. “Mr. Ashley,” it said, “We regret to inform you that your test results for COVID-19 are…positive.” Ugh, and Merry Christmas to you too.

I immediately increased vitamin intake and drank a ton of water. Other than monitoring the amount of oxygen in your blood (with a so called “pulse ox” machine which is $30 on Amazon…get one), there’s not much you can do. I felt at the same time a sense of great concern that I had a disease that had killed other people, but also a sense of relief the finally the gig was up. I was sick and that was that.

My wife and I as it turns out both had the disease. Our four kids had it too although over different time periods. I’ll steal the punch line and let you know everyone fully recovered. Karen and I are both fortunate. While it was a difficult 10-15 days, we both mended without having to go anywhere near a hospital. Obviously, many normal healthy people have a different result; we all have stories of loved ones and friends who have fallen from this nasty virus. We realize how fortunate we are and for that we are grateful.

 The Scarlet Letter C-19

Word made it around our neighborhood that we were sick. Understandably, this is a very serious and contagious disease and no one else wants to catch it from you. But after days at home on a couple of occasions I had to get in my car – windows up – and simply drive around. I would never stop or go into a store and risk exposing someone mind you, but I simply needed to get out. I can recall driving down the street and seeing that knowing look in a neighbor's eyes. They would wave but they certainly didn't approach to talk to you. And I completely understand.

The bottom line is while you have an active case of COVID-19 you have the modern-day version of the plague. It's nothing personal, but no right-minded person is going to want to get close to you. Even so, this has an interesting psychological effect in that you are somehow not free in a free society. It feels something like I imagine house arrest must feel sans the ankle bracelet.

I hope to never experience this bizarre feeling of being shunned again.

Wow, I Can Breathe Again

After many days we finally began to feel ourselves again. And I know there is debate on both approaches here, but I decided to get a test to confirm that I no longer had the virus. I sighed great relief when I got a negative result from a quick test.

Physically it took a handful of days after the negative test, but we were finally back to normal and 100% recovered.

A Deep Breath and A Fresh Look at the World

So, I now spend my days talking with executives about what the future of office will look like. I've contemplated most every scenario you can imagine. And most of those evaluations consider a group of people who are desperately scared of illness.

But here's the thing... Now that I have immunity, I feel emboldened to go out into the world. Do I wash my hands? Absolutely. Do I wear a mask? Should you even have to ask that question? Of course.

But I can report psychologically that I feel great relief and almost no fear in going into a group of people. I've had a couple of people shake my hands and it feels so 2019 and normal. If a good friend extended arms for a hug I would accept without reservation. Some call it the Superman complex, but whatever you call it, this is a real thing.

The headlines scream about the victims and the infections, but millions of people have beaten COVID-19. In my experience, folks in the Post COVID Club are not scared of hugs and handshakes. I’ve met more and more people in the Club and we have instant bonding and collective relief that this dreaded illness is over for us. I’m sure brothers and sisters who’ve received the precious vaccine will feel the same way.

What about people who catch the disease twice? Yes, that is a real thing, but statistically far less likely to occur than the first occurrence of the disease. And like I said earlier, we still take all the precautions, but your psyche is different once you’re in the Club.

Oh, one more thing. I now have what they call “convalescent plasma” which means my platelets can help very sick people recover. I will be in the American Red Cross Blood Services Center every week for as long as they will have me to donate. I feel great about being able to literally save lives, plus they give you free Nutter Butters when you are done!

I pray for healing for our land and safety for all. I also now realize that when this scourge is gone, life WILL return back to normal. I feel it in my own heart and head.

Stay safe – and I can’t wait till I can shake your hand again and maybe even hug your neck at a business dinner!

Being normal again will be a great victory in 2021 and I will feel like a great conqueror when Covid-19 is as tame as a kitten!