the love files | love conquers all
Couples Beating COVID-19
Love conquers all, but can it help someone fight harder to live in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic? Can the emotional connection to your loved one play a significant role in healing? These true love stories from couples caught in the trenches of this terrible virus and how it brought them closer together will inspire you.
By Ilsy J. Hoo
JESUS AND DIANA Clifton, NJ
Jesus, originally from Mexico, and Diana, from Peru, fell in love and were living the life they had always dreamed of—traveling, working out, and spending time with their daughter, Christine, and her girlfriend, Kirsti. It seemed that nothing could disrupt the life they’d built. Kirsti and Christine were just planning out their second world trip, until that is, the unexpected struck. Initially, the family was more concerned about Diana being susceptible to the virus given her high-risk status following a stroke, so they were blindsided when, the week of March 21st, Jesus started to feel ill with fevers, cough, and chills. After testing positive for COVID-19, his health rapidly declined and the doctor placed him in a medically induced coma and put him on a ventilator. This was extremely upsetting for Diana who hadn’t been apart from her “Cielo” (her heaven) in 28 years. She was also heartbroken by the death of her mother, Julia, who was also admitted to the hospital and later passed away from COVID-19. Even with so much sorrow, she was determined to stay connected to her love. Knowing that comatose patients can still hear others around them, Diana asked the nurses to Facetime her so she and her daughter could speak to Jesus. Although her heart ached for him, she knew she needed to stay strong and reassure him to keep fighting. Diana would tell him, “We love you and miss you. You’re going to get stronger and beat this, and there are people all over the world who are rooting for you.” After 21 days in the hospital, Jesus’ health started to improve, setting him on his journey to recovery. One of the first things the couple did when he was released from the hospital was cuddle for hours. They often took naps together. They also made time for date nights with and without the kids. It was a miracle of love that brought him home. Diana has her “Mi Cielo” back. Jesus is not quite fully recovered, but he’s getting better each day.
Love Is a Catalyst to Healing
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According to Suzanne Orlando, a licensed mental health professional in New Jersey, “it is absolutely possible that love can motivate someone to fight harder to live.” She points out studies of NICU babies, which show the more human touch they have and the more they are held, the higher the probability that they will thrive. “This goes for all humans.”
turn their focus on hope, love, and connection to help them heal. “When we are connected emotionally through love, human connection, and compassion, we are more likely to fight and to see the value in pushing past pain—be it physical or emotional—to continue on with those we love,” Suzanne says.
“We often hear about people with terminal illnesses or elderly loved ones who hang on long enough to say their last goodbyes to those rushing to see them,” she adds. Time after time, we learn the stories of individuals battling cancer who
Rarely do we get to see examples of physical healing that defies science, but these stories show us that love can heal anything. There are no limits, regardless of what doctors say. We like to believe that love conquers all.
