When you first hear the word “positive”, you’re completely in shock- or at least I was. I instantly burst out in tears, I didn’t expect the test to come out positive.

When I got my results back from the doctor, I wasn’t sick or contagious anymore. I think the emotions came from how drained I felt from the past two weeks. 

In July, I tested positive for COVID. I thought I was just sick, but not COVID sick. It feels different when you think about how many people have passed away from something that is in YOUR body. I would always be careful when going to the grocery store or out in public. I was always wearing my mask, washing my hands, and even taking vitamins and teas every day. Somehow I still contracted it.

It all started with a sore throat. It felt as if I had something stuck in my throat. I couldn’t swallow normally, but I thought it was just that and nothing more. That first day I still went out to the grocery store and went out to Applebee’s for dinner. How stupid of me. 

Over the next few days, my symptoms worsened. The only way I was able to sleep was if I put Vicks vapor rub literally everywhere.

On the 4th day, my Mexican mother had me swallow some vapor rub and I admit, it made me feel better. I was at my parent’s house when I noticed that my sense of taste and smell were gone. That’s when it got real for me. I quickly washed my hands and said goodbye to my parents – terrified.

On the 5th day, I could no longer sleep. My chest felt as if it was going to come out of my body. I couldn’t breathe because of all the congestion. This lasted for about 9 days. Throughout the days, I would drown myself with soups and teas. Vitamins were my best friends. I drank about a gallon a day because I knew I needed to flush everything out of my system.

I didn’t get my sense of taste or smell until the beginning of August. 

The worst part for me was not the symptoms, it was the fact that I didn’t know I was sick and I was going to my parents house and hanging out with them. I’m so lucky to have not passed the virus onto them.

I call myself lucky because my symptoms were not that bad. I get sad when I realize that some people have passed away from a virus I had in my body. This experience has been a blessing in disguise.