When Covid came to stay

This time last year I was just wrapping up a wonderful three weeks in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia, and spent three days in New Zealand with dear friends who are family en route home. I was so privileged to be awarded an ISASA Visitorship to learn more about Inquiry Based Learning and Character Education in Australia. It was an incredible experience and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity.

Whilst in Tasmania, and hosted warmly and generously by Scotch Oakburn College, I joined a Year 8 class for a three day bush walk through the Fingal Valley, spending two nights camping in tents in -2 degree rainy weather on the Aberfoyle property, making our way to their Valley Campus. Don’t let the term bush walk fool you; it was not bush as we know it and it was definitely more than a walk. When I first heard that I was going to be joining the students on their Odyssey, I wasn’t too sure about all it involved or all that I would experience. I felt concerned, but not anxious; I wondered how it would all work out and prayed for God’s strength and provision.

This was indeed a beautiful journey. It was tough, at times I literally took three steps forward and slid meters backwards; needing help to get up again as my backpack was so heavy. The views were spectacular and the quiet conversations with the girls as we made our way up and down were meaningful. I was in a crowd but alone; and that solitary state was unique and welcome. It enabled me to be a part of the group but apart and I kept up a constant conversation with the Lord that I had not before experienced. The phrase “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) took on a whole new meaning. I literally chatted to the Lord solidly on those days in the Fingal Valley. I spoke to Him about the huge rocky outcrop looming ahead that I had no idea of how I would make it to the top; I chatted to Him about the heaviness of my backpack and the forecasted storm. I praised Him for the incredible beauty and the awesome countryside He had created; I thanked Him for my safety and that of the girls in my care. I asked Him for direction when I was at the back of the group and a bit lost; I laughed with Him when I fell in the river and got soaked in the icy water. I thanked Him for the incredible opportunity of being in the quiet, unspoilt valley with the possums around the fire at night and the pademelons greeting us as we started the last stretch of our journey. I literally spoke to Him all the time, and this continued as I explored Launceston; and drove down the beautiful east coast to Hobart, flew back to Melbourne and travelled out to Ballarat. He was my constant companion and eventhough I was in a strange country with friends I had not previously met, situations that were so incredibly different, challenges I had to conquer and experiences of a lifetime, I was not fearful because He was with me and His peace accompanied me wherever I went.

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Thirteen days ago, I embarked on another journey that could be described as an Odyssey. The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/odyssey 27/6/20) describes an odyssey as a journey with lots of adventures or difficulties, or as a series of experiences that teach you something about yourself and about life.

2020 has been the year that no one ever really imagined. We have all watched the sci-fi movies about a virus taking over the world and altering life and everything perceived to be normal. Yet, when Covid-19 interrupted our lives, we were not prepared for the realities or the effect it would have on each and every person to some degree.

As our country has moved from the heavy lockdown of Alert Level 5, we have worn masks, gone to the shops infrequently, attended Cell group by Zoom, “watched” church and had little contact with our loved ones who are not in our homes. We returned to school and taught online and on campus simultaneously. Our plans and schedules changed numerous times as the powers that be made decisions and then changed them again. It has been a time of uncertainty and daily change – sometimes hourly change. We have social distanced and exercised in specified times. We have heard about friends and family members of friends who have contracted Covid-19, here and overseas, and prayed for them as they fought the virus and its effects. We have watched as numbers in the Western Cape particularly have climbed in recent weeks and heard of more and more people impacted by the virus, and now we have watched as more and more people in Gauteng are infected.

I always have a slight cough in winter and so wasn’t surprised when I coughed every now and again. We had our temperatures checked every day at school, and mine was consistent 36.4; 36.5; 36.3; never reaching any higher.

Monday 15 June; we had an online day for teaching and so I was sitting at the diningroom table which has become my home desk and classroom, when I suddenly began coughing persistently. It was as if someone had turned on a switch and I could just not turn it off. I almost immediately began to feel unwell and took my temperature – yes, I had made sure that I had bought a thermometer when we were warned about Covid-19 as we hadn’t had one for years. 37.9 it read. The coughing continued. I decided to call our homegrown doctor and fortunately she was not busy at that moment and was able to take my call – a rare occasion. She confirmed what I thought and that I needed to be tested. The thermometer now read 38.1.

I called my Doctor who managed to give me a telephonic consultation in between the coughing and sent me all the documentation for the Covid-19 test and health department declarations and scheduled an appointment to see me later, after all the other patients had left the practice. In my heart I didn’t need that test because I knew already that I was positive. POSITIVE. This is usually a good word, one that indicates life and fulfillment, positive feedback, positive results, positive outlook on life, positive future. POSITIVE in 2020 looks very different, POSITIVE has become negative.

I duly had the Covid tickle as we refer to it at school and I must say, the throat swab is really not that bad. You just have to relax and stick out your tongue at the same time! Now that takes a bit of co-ordination but when you get it right, it is quick and over in no time. 24 hours and the results will be out.

I drove to the Doctor for my appointment and waited in the car whilst another patient went inside. When it was my turn, the Doctor came out in full combatant gear aka PPE and I was ushered up the driveway to the back of the surgery where an outside consulting area had been set up. Initial diagnosis was that it was very possible that I had Covid-19 and we discussed the lack of treatment to eradicate the virus, how to assist my body in fighting the virus, and the necessary checks to do throughout the day to ensure that my breathing wasn’t compromised.

I may write another blog post with more detail, but safe to say that just before 10h00 on Wednesday 17 June, I received the sms from Lancet Laboratories. “Kindly note that your COVID-19 test result is ** POSITIVE.” There was that word again.

It was a whirlwind of making arrangements, letting family know and alerting the relevant authorities. Who would think that being POSITIVE would result in so much paper work and documentation? As we embarked on this journey, our prayer was basically two-fold – that this virus would not attack my lungs as I am already compromised due to having had tuberculosis at the age of 20, and that Denis would not succumb to it as he had already been exposed to me in the days when I was contagious but not yet diagnosed. As this was day 3, another 11 days of quarantine lay ahead of us.

I read that days 4 to 7 were the worst and for me they certainly were, but this Odyssey was a beautiful journey. It meant isolation from Denis, in the same house but apart. We chatted down the passage at night from our separate rooms and felt as if we were children having a sleep over. It meant lots of sleep and many different symptoms that at times were not easy. It meant tears and prayers. But it also meant that I was on that 24/7 journey of talking to my Lord again. When I woke, I praised Him for another night without complications, as I felt my chest tighten I prayed for miraculous healing, as people cared and loved on us, I thanked Him for the incredible network of people we have who just went over and above to make sure we had what we needed. As Den and I reversed roles, I thanked the Lord for a husband who despite his many challenges was able to care for me as best he could and that he did so well.

I chatted to the Lord about all the many times He had met our needs and provided for us before; for the miraculous healing Tam had experienced, for the fact that Talitha shouldn’t have been here as I had a procedure that should have ended her life when I didn’t know I was pregnant; for His incredible undertaking when Denis had brain surgery in 2013; for His constant help in too many circumstances to mention. Moses encourages us in Deuteronomy to talk to our children and remind them of all God has done for us. We intentionally did this with the girls when we had family devotions together. When you have time to think all day, God reminds you of the times He has cared for you and miraculously intervened; He increases your faith, hope and trust that He will pull you through again.

Yes, there were times when I wondered where this would go; I was glad that earlier this year I had got all our documentation in place and opened a shared Google Drive with the girls in case of an emergency, but I had an absolute sense of peace as the Lord walked each step with me. As I chatted to Him, He constantly reminded me that “those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will rise up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint” – Isaiah 40:31.

Today is day 13 of 14. My strength has returned and I am no longer so incredibly weary. I certainly haven’t tried running yet but a good walk around our little garden has been great on this sunny day.

Four percent of all the deaths in South Africa (presently at 2292) have been people who had previously had tuberculosis. Four percent means 92 people at this time.

Denis is 72 years old with underlying neurological co-morbidities. We shared everything in the days before my diagnosis yet he has to date not shown any symptoms at all. God’s grace and provision have been so evident in our lives these past 13 days. We have been absolutely blown away by the care and the many offers of help we have received; the many messages and promises of prayer literally from all corners of the earth; the meals that arrived at our gate; the Woolworths order that the girls sent from far away; the flowers; the chocolates; the cake; the freshly squeezed citrus juice; our meds being collected from the chemist and we could go on and on.

These past two weeks have not been the easiest but they have been sacred and beautiful. We are humbled by God’s grace and His constant love and faithfulness in our lives. We pray that Denis continues to stay well in these weird and wonderful days.