Want some good news? Sure you do. Well there happens to be plenty of it out there if you actually want to find it badly enough. Any time we speak about the positive and hopeful, it is appropriate to recognize the tragedy that has befallen too many people since COVID-19 took off all over the world. We need to offer our compassion and support to those who need it whenever possible. But one of the ways to help them and everyone else it to keep a clear perspective of what is happening around us, and that means to take the time to acknowledge the happier stories and the people that make the world a better place. Here are a few stories that will hopefully brighten your day.
1-Surviving Seniors
Leonidas Romero, 92, with his daughter, Carolina Romero.
Sometimes the devil is in the details, but other times only the headlines matter. While tragically the elderly population has suffered due to COVID-19, it’s important to note that unlike what many reports might lead you to believe, it is not a death sentence. We need to continue to take all actions possible to keep our elderly safe as it is very dangerous for them to get COVID-19, but let’s also recognize some notable stories of seniors that fell victim to it and survived.
A 92 year old man in Massachusetts returned home after weeks in the hospital.
A 97-year-old woman in Brazil survived the virus.
A 104 year old man in Oregon survived COVID-19.
And a 106 year old woman in the UK survived after 3 weeks of hospitalization.
Four random cases of which there are definitely more, and while we need to do everything we can to risk the exposure of the elderly, enough to make us feel a whole lot better.
2- A Happy Milestone
Bianca Jimenez, 600th patient released from Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, NY
A little closer to home, on April 25th, Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, NY celebrated as it released its 600th patient recovering from the Coronavirus. 19 year old Bianca Jimenez was released less than a week after being admitted with a fever of 104 and symptoms that included, cough, dizziness and shortness of breath. We all thank our Drs. and nurses any chance we get, but if you talk with them you know nothing makes them feel better than sending people home who are recovering. Let’s hope that number continues to grow exponentially faster.
3- Bringing joy and support through music
Broadway performer, Brian Stokes Mitchell, as a way to express his gratitude to front line workers has taken to singing from this Upper West Side window in Manhattan. Singing “The Impossible Dream”, Mitchell says that what he is doing “is not a performance. It’s an act of gratitude.” He also states that the song is not about doing something impossible, rather it is about trying. To make what he is doing even more poignant, Mitchell himself has had the virus and was even sick enough to worry about whether it would have a permanent impact on his vocal chords. I think it’s safe to say that there are many people very happy that it didn’t.
4- NFL’s Greatest Moment
Not only did the NFL Draft provide us with a fun distraction, it offered us some heartwarming stories that yes, get ready for it, had nothing to do with the Coronavirus. As serious and deadly as the illness is, it is refreshing to hear about something else, especially if it is something good. No story struck me more than the story of Offensive Lineman Austin Jackson, picked 18th by the Miami Dolphins. Austin’s little sister Autumn, was inflicted with Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), a rare inherited disorder that prevents bone marrow from producing red blood cells. Last year with her condition deteriorating, she required a bone marrow transplant just to help her survive, let alone improve. Without any hesitation, Austin, who matched as a donor did what was necessary to help his sister despite the risk to himself and his career. Around 1 year after the successful transplant, Autumn is on her way to complete recovery and Austin is on his way to the NFL. This is probably the first time a player has become one of my favorites in the NFL before even playing a snap. Thank you to them both for their inspiration.
And on a side note, kudos to NFL commissioner to Roger Goodell, for not only giving us a really well run and entertaining draft during challenging times, but for being able to laugh at himself enough to encourage virtual boos. Something tells me those virtual boos might just turn into more cheers in the future than he’s ever seen before.
So there you have it, some stories I hope will make you feel just a little uplifted in a time when despair sells. We can’t control a lot of what happens, but we can control what we put out there and what we allow in. Let’s make an effort to acknowledge and be grateful for what is good out there, because not doing so will very possibly hurt us more than any virus ever could.
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