Persevering through a pandemic

St. Luke’s physician shares her thoughts after overcoming COVID-19

By Claire Kiger

WhenDr. Rachel Gordon chose to become a physician, she had no idea that a global pandemic lay ahead of her. She never could have predicted the effects that COVID-19 would have on our world. In particular, she never would have believed the close encounter she was going to have with this devastating virus personally.

Starting out, she had wanted to become a teacher. However, discovering a particular passion for her science classes changed everything. She transitioned from secondary education to premed and never looked back. After completing residency, she moved to Duluth with her family to begin her practice at St. Luke’s Internal Medicine.

Four years later, the spread of COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Shortly after that, Dr. Gordon’s daughter, only a 5-year-old at the time, came down with a high fever. Fortunately she fully recovered, but it wasn’t long before Dr. Gordon noticed a tickle in her own throat.

Overcoming COVID-19

“It was a Friday morning when I got the call that I was COVID-positive,” said Dr. Gordon. “I sat in disbelief for a while. But then my head went to the worst case scenario. What if I had spread the virus unknowingly? What if I was going to be the cause of some awful outbreak?” She had been following all the recommended precautions. Still, she feared the worst. She reached out to everyone she had been in contact with at work that week, both colleagues and patients. She had to let them know they could have been exposed. Thankfully, in the end no one contracted the virus from Dr. Gordon and her symptoms were only moderate.

“It was like a bad cold with chest pain,” she said. “I was sick for about a week, lost my sense of smell and had two days where I was pretty knocked out. But eventually I made it through, eager to share my experience. I wanted everyone to know that they needed to protect themselves and prepare.”

It’s time to see your doctor again

Working with an elderly population, she knew it was best for her patients to stay home as much as possible during the early days of the pandemic. So she encouraged them to do just that, even if that meant not seeing her for a while. However, since then things have changed.

“When the pandemic started, it was smart for people to stay away from others. Small health concerns could wait,” she said. “But now we know how to protect ourselves from the virus. It’s been more than a year. It’s time to see your doctor again.”

Some may be planning to avoid medical facilities until they are vaccinated, while others may be holding out for the pandemic to end altogether. However, the risks of waiting could be worse than the risks of contracting the virus.

“As a community, we need to stay as healthy as we can by addressing our health issues while they’re still small,” Dr. Gordon said. “Don’t delay the health care you need.”

For your future at St. Luke’s

Dr. Gordon is encouraged that we are all learning to live with this virus and moving back towards normal.

“St. Luke’s is doing so well at following precautions, and it’s so great welcoming patients back to our clinics and hospitals. Every day I get to see patients I haven’t seen in a while and it’s so rewarding to care for them once again.”

In addition to addressing acute medical issues, it’s also important to stay on schedule with preventative care. This includes annual physicals as well as any cancer screenings you may be due for, like a mammogram, colonoscopy or lung cancer screening. Regular care and screenings both help to ensure a healthier future.

“The end to this pandemic is coming,” Dr. Gordon said, “but it won’t be all at once. It will simmer out gradually and take some time. Until then, focus on taking care of yourself and the people around you. Eat healthy, exercise regularly, continue to follow all the recommended safety precautions, and get the medical care you need.”

Schedule an appointment or establish care at slhduluth.com/schedule. D

Samantha Roffers, a Moose Lake writer, believes it’s important to shop for things you love and feel comfortable in. Everyone’s style is unique and that’s what makes it so special.

By Samantha Roffers

Hello,

dear readers, and welcome back.

If this is your first time reading Fashions By Sam, welcome! I hope you’ve been able to enjoy some of the gorgeous weather we've been having. I can't remember the last time I got a sunburn on Easter!

For this issue of The Woman Today, we decided to honor Mother’s Day. I was lucky enough to have The Woman Today sales representative Ali Carlson, a new mom, join me on this month's issue of Fashions By Sam. We put some adorable “mommy and me” outfits together and captured some great photos. By some kind of divine intervention, all the kiddos cooperated and the weather was beautiful. We ordered our outfits from one of my favorite online boutiques, “Bailey's Blossoms.” They always have a fantastic selection of trendy and affordable baby clothes.

“I was so excited when we first discussed the idea of a Mother’s Day photo shoot, as this is my first Mother’s Day as an official mom,” Carlson said. “This was also our first matching outfit, too! As we live in Duluth and can never trust the weather, I thought, ‘Better play it safe and do a little bit warmer outfit.’ I found these dresses and thought they would be perfect for Sloane’s blue eyes and red hair. I had leggings on standby if it was any colder, but we thankfully caught a 55-degree day.

“I am hoping that every mother out there has a very special day with their families!” Carlson added.

One of my favorite things about being a mother is being surrounded by these wonderful little humans who are always up for fun and adventure. Being around kids really puts life into perspective. They are great at reminding

by Sam

us moms to be present in the moment and enjoy what's happening right now, rather than worrying about what's to come. Whether they are getting excited over a rain storm, dessert or tromping around and exploring nature, they always know how to see the silver lining. There's nothing I love more than being present when they discover all of the wonderful things this world has to offer.

I hope you all enjoy these photos, and I hope they inspire you to get out and capture your own “mommy and me” memories. I wish you all a wonderful Mother’s Day. Stay healthy, friends! D employment opportunities availableat jobswithus.org