HOW I GOT FROM HERE TO THERE: OUR COVID STORIES
T I Cares' Acts of Kindness Army
by Dana Elisofon
After 462 days, the state of emergency declared by Governor Baker in March of 2020 was finally lifted Tuesday, June 15, 2021! Those who are vaccinated can once again share big, toothy grins no longer hidden by protective masks, we can again enjoy the embrace of a bear hug with friends and family and we can safely travel to visit loved ones whom we have been separated from for far too long. Having been starved of the moments to gather together, we might even be able to find some enjoyment in being stuck in a good ‘ole Boston rush hour traffic jam. Ok, maybe that’s pushing it but if there’s one thing I’m absolutely sure of as we come out of this pandemic, it’s that we’re better and stronger when we work together and that is exactly why I became a member of the Temple Israel Cares Committee. Dana Elisofon
The TI Cares Committee and its “Acts of Kindness” Army have always been dedicated to connecting with members during times of celebration, grief, joy and challenge. Despite the need to be physically distant from one another this year, we were still able to convey togetherness in a variety of ways that helped make the TI community better and stronger. Hand written condolence notes were sent to members who lost loved ones, new members were welcomed into our temple community through phone and/or email conversations since gathering physically wasn’t feasible. Meal Trains were in full motion and delivered to members in need while celebratory Purim goody bags were assembled and delivered to members who were feeling especially isolated due to issues of mobility. Despite 462 days of isolation, staying connected to the TI community and my involvement with TI Cares helped me get from there to here and I am so grateful to our temple for that opportunity!
Expecting Radical Change
by George Alba and Lucy Schulson
We had the unique foresight to know that our lives would radically change in the spring of 2020 — we just did not, and could not, fully realize exactly how it would change. As we entered 2020, we were eagerly awaiting the birth of our first daughter in May. In the months leading up to her due date, we planned everything we could: we amassed all the things that we would need to dress her, bathe her, feed her, transport her, and entertain her; we chose a pediatrician and interviewed prospective nannies; and we planned all the activities we would do in the third trimester —our last hurrah to enjoy restaurants, movies, and casual evenings out with friends before our lives would change forever. Smash cut to March 2020, when the first patients with COVID-19 were being admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) where George works as a pulmonary and critical care physician. The ensuing weeks were filled with tremendous uncertainty as the hospital rearranged itself to accommodate a rapidly growing surge of patients, the state shut down non-essential businesses, and people retreated into their homes and began logging into Zoom. George began working in the first “surge” intensive care units at MGH—spaces that previously did not care for critically ill patients became intensive care units. George Alba, Lucy Schulson, and Penelope Alba
How the novel coronavirus was transmitted was not yet fully known, so George and Lucy created a “decontamination protocol” so that when George returned home, he would not transmit an infection to Lucy who was in her third trimester. George spent the six weeks before Penelope was born living separately from Lucy, hoping that the personal protective equipment he was reusing each day was enough to protect him and his family from a novel infection. And he quarantined for two weeks before Penelope’s due date in order to be eligible to be at the delivery. Miraculously, Penelope arrived exactly on time, so George was eligible to be there for her birth. Penelope entered into a world of masked faces, a pandemic child through-and-through, developing a Pavlovian association between masks and going outside into the world. Penelope entered our lives —and the world — during a challenging time. But like her namesake in the Odyssey, she has remained our motivation to gu ide us back home. 12
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