In college, there were always those students who “set the curve”. They did the best on exams and therefore defined how the grading would play out for the rest of the class. We have a different kind of curve on our hands, but we all play a role in how this curve is set. We will all play a role in who will be beneath the curve and how steep or flat it ultimately becomes.
At first, I thought that I was outside this curve. I’m 28, young, healthy and exposed to viruses on a regular basis at the hospital. I had a trip to Paris planned for as soon as I finished third year. We were going to sip on wine and eat baguettes. I didn’t care if I got sick after the trip, as long as I got to go. This was in February, as we were first starting to see flights canceled and the numbers spread. Still, we held onto our trip.
Then, in the beginning of March I participated in a tour of community resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Accompanying me on the tour was a physician who cares specifically for the IDD population and I heard her express concern over how COVID-19 was going to impact this community. What would happen to them if their primary caregivers became sick? What would happen to Day Programs where many people with IDD go during the day if someone who attended became sick and still went?
I grew concerned when I began to see first-hand who was going to be impacted the most.
I still didn’t want to give up my regular schedule. There were only 6 weeks left in my third year and I had patients I was looking forward to seeing back in clinic. I had skills I was looking forward to perfecting. I had surgeries I was looking forward to scrubbing in on. Pausing clinical rotations was a devastating turn of events. But then, I thought about how many people I interacted with on a daily basis when I was working in the clinics. I did the math. At least 25 people in one day. How many others do those 25 contact in a day? I understand now how things go viral.
Maybe I will be outside this curve meaning that I won’t get sick, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have the ability to affect it.
So, I stay home and hope that others do too.
We get to determine how this plays out.
We get to decide to flatten the curve.
Glimpse of Grace 