Unmasking America

The UNMASKING of AMERICA

TEARS

OF A NATION

By LaShanya Nash By now you know the great personal loss I have experienced losing my Mother, Father and paternal Grandmother in a span of less than three years. I often say that CAREGIVER Magazine is my personal way of coping with all my grief and honoring my loved ones who I miss greatly (on a daily basis). Knowing how hard my own grieving process has been I truly can not imagine the level of grief, emotional pain and anger the families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic of COVID-19 must be feeling.

Grief is a very personal journey and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. But I do fear the families that are in a state of deep sorrow will need help in dealing with their loss. My mother died from misdiagnosed and prolonged Histoplasmosis. In most cases, “histoplasmosis causes mild, flu-like symptoms. Most symptoms go away on their own, in a few weeks.” But Momma’s did not. “If the exposure is heavy, or the patient more vulnerable, symptoms may progress and become more severe. They will experience shortness of breath and could eventually show signs of respiratory failure. If the histoplasmosis spreads throughout the body, patients can suffer from complications. These include enlarged spleen and liver, gastrointestinal bleeding, lip and mouth ulcerations and decreased white and red blood cells leading to bone marrow failure.

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If this all sounds familiar, what Momma had is a zoonotic disease, like COVID-19. Zoonotic diseases are infectious disease caused by a pathogen (an infectious agent, such as a bacterium, virus, parasite or prion) that has jumped from an animal to a human. Typically, the first infected human transmits the infectious agent to at least one other human, who, in turn, infects others. Most strains of influenza that infect humans are human diseases, although many strains of bird flu and swine flu are zoonoses; these viruses occasionally recombine with human strains of the flu and can cause pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu, 2009 swine flu or the current COVID-19 pandemic.

To see someone you love so deeply fade out of this world in such a tragic, needlessly horrific way is an experience that leaves your heart and mind never whole again. Momma didn’t need to die like she did - just like so many people currently who are suffering an agonizing death. Their loved ones from all over the world, speaking languages not understood by my ears, but crying mournful, longing tears for their loved ones - that immediately melds my heart to theirs and I can’t help but grieve with them. I am transported back to a time and place DispatchHealth Travels DispatchHealth Travels that is the definition of Hell on Earth. COVID-19 fears have robbed so much from so many. So The Flu Doesn’t So The Flu Doesn’t As a family, we were able to be there for Momma. Making the ICU a home away from home for her. Brushing her hair, moistening her mouth and wiping her tears while saying our

If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment. DispatchHealth Travels If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have a team of DispatchHealth Travels

So The Flu Doesn’t DispatchHealth Travels

So The Flu Doesn’t

goodbyes. But these families cannot be there with their loved ones; this disease robbed them of a vital step in closure. They cannot be a comfort or an advocate. They are left in a deep state of anxiety, stuck in confusion and despair, praying for Who’s At Risk? If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment. So The Flu Doesn’t medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment.

If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment. the best and preparing for the worst. After their loved one passed away, families were also not allowed to have funerals to memorialize and honor their DispatchHealth Travels

Who’s At Risk? Who’s at Risk? Who’s At Risk?Who’s At Risk? loved ones. Another valued and necessary step in grieving If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have was denied to them because of this horrible disease. a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment.

So The Flu Doesn’t

There are so many unanswered questions concerning COVID-19 - some that are so very polarizing and some we will most likely never know the answers to but the one thing all of humanity can agree upon is that those who have lost someone to COVID-19 are in an agonizing place of grief. DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits being flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. Seniors Young children Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses Who’s At Risk? Seniors Young children Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses DispatchHealth Also Treats: + IV placement+ Dizziness / vertigo + Nausea DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits being flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. Seniors Young children Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits being flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. Seniors Young children Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits being flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits being flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. Seniors Young children Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses If you are grieving and need help with all the emotions surrounding the loss of your loved one please find a local grief support group in your community. If you feel an urgent need to speak with someone, you can always reach the US Health DispatchHealth Also Treats: + IV placement+ Dizziness / vertigo + Nausea DispatchHealth Also Treats: DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits being flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. + IV fluids + Splinting + Stitches + Falls + Strains or sprains + Minor fractures + Nosebleed + Facial injuries + Dehydration + Asthma / COPD + And much more DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can. DispatchHealth Also Treats: + IV placement + IV fluids + Splinting + Dizziness / vertigo + Strains or sprains + Minor fractures + Nausea + Dehydration + Asthma / COPD DispatchHealth Also Treats: + IV placement + IV fluids + Splinting + Dizziness / vertigo + Strains or sprains + Minor fractures + Nausea + Dehydration + Asthma / COPD & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health + Strains or sprains + Dizziness / vertigo + Nosebleed+ Nosebleed + IV fluids + IV placement + Stitches+ Stitches + Dehydration + Nausea + And much more+ And much more www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-diseaselookup/histoplasmosis/symptoms-diagnosis Services Administration at samhsa.gov or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). + Splinting + Stitches + Falls + Minor fractures + Nosebleed + Facial injuries + Asthma / COPD + And much more DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can. + IV fluids + Splinting + Stitches + Falls + Strains or sprains + Minor fractures + Nosebleed + Facial injuries + Dehydration + Asthma / COPD + And much more DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can. Request Care: Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | Available 7 Days A Week Request Care: Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | Available 7 Days A Week DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. + Falls+ Facial injuries DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can. Request Care: Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | Available 7 Days A Week + Falls+ Facial injuries DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can. Request Care: Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | Available 7 Days A Week DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can. 1.866.FLU.CREW Check out The Unmasking of America: Fears of a Nation on page 58 in the digital edition, online at CaregiverOklahoma.com! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonosis Request Care: DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.