Dale reveled in the scents of the flowers and the beauty of nature all around her as she walked the semi-tame paths that ran throughout the city in which she lived. The warmth of the sun on her back brought a sense of peace as she walked slowly, keeping her dog, Morty, to a slow pace.
More than anything, Dale was grateful for the chance to be outside, walking. She hadn’t left her house in two weeks. COVID had hit her hard, though it had fortunately missed her lungs.
Dale had learned the hard way that a history of concussion made her more susceptible to the effects of COVID interacting negatively with her brain. Though the concussion had happened years ago, she still sometimes had difficulty finding the right word when she was speaking, and conversations and brief events didn’t always make it into long-term memory.
COVID had added a return to the dizziness, difficulty focusing, and exhaustion she had experienced after her concussion. For a while, it had been difficult to make it from her bed to the sofa.
Today’s walk was slow, with her daughter on one side, her son on the other, and her little dog keeping pace. But it was glorious, nonetheless. Tomorrow, she would walk farther. For today, she had done enough. Shaking a little, she turned her feet toward home, glad of the presence of her adult children on each side.
Parts of this story are autobiographical. I did have a concussion and am nearly better from COVID, which did, indeed, reactivate some concussion symptoms. My first real walk outside was not as difficult as Dale’s, though it was definitely just as precious. It was the warmth of the sun on my back that triggered this story!
I too had a brain injury (bump on the head) last fall and experiencing all the thing you described! 3 brain surgeries later I’m doing a lot better & trying to figure out how long this goes on! I’m so glad the Covid didn’t affect your lungs. And just minimal effects on your brain! Feel better soon
So glad you’re doing better! Great story, btw!