Out the other side: Covid gave us a fresh perspective on life
Thousands of Irish people have survived the deadly virus. Many have found the experience affected them profoundly.
Behind every number, there lies a human story. To date, some 176,839 cases of Covid have been identified in Ireland since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. 2,708 Irish people have lost their lives to the virus, and it is estimated that 23,364 Irish people have recovered from a diagnosis. What was a mysterious and largely misunderstood virus has become an all-too familiar part of our lives. While many of us have talked about it in abstract terms, others have had a direct brush with the virus. And for those who have been lucky enough to survive that, life looks very different now in 2021.
We talked to some of them about their experience of catching Covid, and how it has changed their perspective on their lives.
Thirty-seven-year-old poet and mum Ingrid Casey, who hails from Kildare, contracted Covid not once, but twice.
“March was the first time,” she reflects.
“I had taken the kids for a socially distanced runaround on the Hill of Tara on Paddy’s Day. That evening myself and my older son started to cough, which I put down to us being out in high winds. Bear in mind we sleepwalked into it as a nation, so I didn’t think that day it could be Covid.
“By March 20 I was properly freaked out — by my soaked bedsheets, inability to stand, delirium, but most of all the breathlessness. I’m a single parent, so I was genuinely very frightened either that I would stop breathing and die, or that I would be taken off by ambulance.”
Her GP diagnosed Covid, and with the help of her brother, his wife and some ‘unreal’ neighbours, Ingrid started on the path to recovery.
“Even weeks and weeks later, into May and June I would go for a walk or short cycle (my sons are very active) and I’d just be in bits for days afterwards,” she reveals.
“When the schools reopened, I knew it would only be a matter of time before cases popped up again like dandelions, but nobody took that seriously. GAA events were held, the summer had people a bit overly relaxed. So we contracted it again in October.”
Having tested positive for the virus, currently, Ingrid is awaiting the result of lung X-rays, to determine the long-term effects of Covid.
“The whole experience caused seismic change in our lives,” she admits. “We have been cut off, effectively, from my parents in Dublin. Normally they’d be down once a week — my dad has really been missing the boys this year.
“The experience has forced me to rely on immediate community as and when needed,” she adds. “When the chips are down, you will be grand if you have good neighbours.”
The year also ushered in a new, and unexpected romance: “I also realised I should probably relax a bit, so I did a book swap with a handsome neighbour in April and we did fall in love a little bit,” says Ingrid.
“I don’t really have any resolutions apart from the stuff I always try to do anyway, which is travel within my means and see my friends. I was raging I missed one pal over the summer, who was diagnosed with cancer.
“So I did a small fundraiser for the Mater Foundation during November. I will definitely need to get fitter going forward, and will go back to yoga. I should probably write another book too.”
Galwegian Aisling Gaffney (29) who works in theatre costume, recalls being sent home from work on March 16. “Normally I would go to bed after 1am, but that evening I was exhausted and fully asleep in bed by 9pm,” she explains. “The next day I was quite weak and had a lot of sinus pain and a sinus headache.
“I get a lot of sinus problems and migraines so I didn’t think much of it. The next couple of days felt like a combination of food poisoning, a chest infection, sinusitis and naturally, a virus.”
Covid has resulted in some long-term changes for Aisling: “Almost 10 months later, I have yet to taste and smell normally. By July I had developed parosmia, which is when you have the basic taste like salt or sweet but the flavours are all wrong.
“There’s a lot I still can’t taste/smell. The food I can smell is like hot cardboard, chemicals or rotten meat. If I can taste it it’s again like cardboard or like you’ve accidentally left some washing-up liquid on the plate. At this point I’d prefer not to taste anything.”
Yet in other ways, Covid has prompted other changes in Aisling’s life.
“I’ve never been a ‘go for a run’ type person, but this did make me want to get healthier in general and take better care of myself,” she says.
“Living [at the time] in London away from my family, it was stressful worrying if they were being safe and the thought of one of them getting sick when I couldn’t help has really made me think about where I want to
‘I’ve never been a ‘go for a run’ type person, but this did make me want to get healthier in general and take better care of myself ’
be based long-term. The theatre industry has completely disappeared overnight — losing my job with no timeline of returning has made me and many others realise how much we love what we do. Dressing is the first job I’ve had that I actually enjoy so I’m really hoping to get back to work in 2021 and never complain about it again.”
More recently, Conor Kerley, a doctor of nutrition and founder of nutrition company Phytaphix, contracted Covid last month.
“We were sitting down to dinner which was veg, rice with a homemade curry sauce but I couldn’t taste or smell anything,” he recalls.
“I was lucky to have mild symptoms only. In addition to losing my sense of taste and smell completely, my voice became a little hoarse and my energy levels dipped a little.
“I still can’t taste or smell although it seems like I have gained about 5pc sensation back,” he adds.
“I love my food — my mam tells me my first word was more! — and I miss tasting food, but I feel very lucky to not have more severe symptoms. However, I have multiple sclerosis and allergic asthma so the potential long-term effects of Covid are a little worrying.”
As to whether his experience with Covid has changed his outlook on life, Conor adds: “Because of my own personal health issues I believe that health is your wealth, Covid helps emphasise this.
“I hope that some positives can come from Covid including appreciation of the human aspect of life and more patience and understanding towards each other.”
Meanwhile, Conor has big plans to grow his business in 2021.
“I want to leave a positive impact on the world in terms of health but also in terms of sustainability and giving back, what I can, when I can. Being ill has a way of making people re-evaluate things.
“I plan to think about things I can control more and not concern myself with things I can’t control. I’m also planning on taking much more advantage of the stunning outdoors we have here in Ireland on regular day-trips, weekend breaks and holidays.”