This holiday season presents us with a choice: we can pretend everything is normal and hope for the best, or we can prioritize safety by staying home and keeping our gatherings limited to those in our household. It’s just one year out of hopefully many more to come.
My daughter, Mia, was a vibrant and ambitious 13-year-old. In July, she had just returned to her summer dance camp, participating in a small group of six kids, all wearing masks. It felt like a small sacrifice for her to engage in something she loved so much.
However, just two days after returning to class, Mia began to feel unusually fatigued. Given her ongoing battle with an autoimmune disease, we attributed her tiredness to the physical exertion of dancing. We let her rest at home while she enjoyed video games and snacks. Little did we know, we were gravely mistaken about the cause of her fatigue.
On that fateful Friday, she had breakfast and took a nap. When she woke up, it was clear something was seriously wrong, and I rushed her to the hospital. As we waited and prayed, our beautiful girl passed away. The details of that day are etched in my mind forever. It wasn’t until after her death that we learned she had tested positive for COVID-19.
Now, we are grappling with our year of “firsts.” We celebrated her birthday without her, faced our first Thanksgiving without her, and now we are preparing for a Christmas that will forever feel incomplete. Our lives will carry on without her presence.
Many people have assured us that young individuals don’t need to worry much about COVID-19, but that simply isn’t true. Mia was young, full of life, and on the brink of exciting opportunities. Yet, those dreams are now lost. I’ll never see her perform in her first major play, support her through her first heartbreak, or experience the pride of watching her graduate high school. For me, my daughter will always be thirteen.
COVID-19 can strike anyone, no matter how healthy they may seem. The sadness of missing out on holiday festivities pales in comparison to the void left by losing a loved one. The grief can be suffocating, and I urge anyone reading this to reconsider their plans. Please take extra precautions, even if it requires forgoing in-person family traditions this year, to ensure your family’s safety for many more years to come. You may feel fine, but a loved one may not be so fortunate. The risk of exposure is real and greater than many want to acknowledge.
Remember, this virus can affect anyone, regardless of age or health. You could unknowingly spread the virus, even if you show no symptoms. Life is unpredictable, and it’s easy to be exposed to germs in ways you might not consider—whether it’s touching a gas station counter or sharing a meal with someone who may be asymptomatic. It’s not a matter of if you will know someone impacted by this virus, but when. I promise you, the aftermath of COVID-19 is nothing but heartbreak.
Please be cautious this year. While missing family and holiday celebrations is difficult, losing a child means saying goodbye to those traditions forever, leaving an empty chair at your dinner table.
For more insights, check out this article on home insemination, which provides valuable information on related topics. Additionally, you can refer to Intracervical Insemination for expert advice, and visit American Pregnancy for further resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Probable Search Queries:
- How to stay safe during COVID-19 holidays
- Impact of COVID-19 on children
- Grieving the loss of a child during the holidays
- COVID-19 safety tips for families
- Resources for coping with loss
Summary:
This piece reflects on the profound loss of a 13-year-old girl, Mia, due to COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of safety during the holiday season. It calls for caution and consideration of loved ones’ health, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the virus and its potential impact on families, particularly young people.