Putting Yourself First Being symptomatic, but not taken seriously Savannah Parris I work at a pet store which is deemed essential during times like these. Which is completely understandable because pets deserve everything they need, just like us humans. I took precautions, as did my work. We had extra cleaning procedures and I stayed doing what I needed to. I even had to ask customers to step away from me because they would get too close. I am one of the only employees that didn’t change their availability and was still willing to work. Things went well at the start and I felt that it was going to be almost impossible to catch it. Then a customer called saying she was outside and she was exposed but
24
| ISSUE 104
she needed dog food. Nobody else was willing to risk it so I was the one who carried it to her car and tossed it in the trunk. I didn’t touch anything of hers and she stayed in the car, but it as still risky. I disinfected everything and washed my hands immdiately. Then it went downhill. I started not feeling good and watched my symptoms. My cousin is a doctor and she told me that the virus presents itself in different ways in different age groups, so I went ahead and called my work so they were aware I wouldn’t be there for a few weeks and I set up a doctor’s appointment. By the time I could get to the doctor, I was super sick. I
