Your actions have consequences...
I see a lot of people are still wondering what is all this fuzz about.
A lot of people are still saying: this is like a flu, why is everybody freaking out?
I hear people asking why is this being taken out of proportion. Others saying “I’m young and healthy, I don't have any risk”. I see the same question coming up again, why do I need to stay at home?
Well, let me tell you a story…
Imagine Joe, imagine average Joe in the US, this average Joe is in his early forties, slightly overweight, not obese, but just over his healthy BMI, he’s had high blood pressure for a while and is pre-diabetic. He exercises here and there, not too much; he likes his comfort foods, drinks soda sometimes and loves quick fast food that gets him going without interrupting his day…
Average Joe is thinking that this is a crazy thing and that everyone is over reacting, that this is simply like the flu and he doesn't think that he should stay at home.
Joe is very vocal about it, and as he says it, he does it. He just keeps on his daily rituals without taking any extra precautions because… this is just a flu…
But one day Joe starts to feel a small headache, he feels somehow fatigued but just thinks that is because he didn't slept well the night before, so he goes about his normal routines again. The next couple of days, the headache is still there, he’s still tired and now he started to have some fever. He decides to take some Advil and see if it goes away. But he still goes about his day.
Another day passes and his fever doesn't go away, his tiredness is still there and now he is coughing more often and feels some chest discomfort…
What does Joe do? He goes about his day…
Joe goes about his day until he feels the pressure in his chest area is too uncomfortable and he cannot breath well. Finally he decides to go to the ER.
When he gets there he sees all the chaos around, the ER facility overwhelmed with all the people needing care. He notices all the requirements for confinement and keeping the 6 ft. distancing and the protection of the health workers and he has to stay there and wait because the ER is way too busy.
Joe is not feeling well, his chest is heavier and he cannot breath. He is about to collapse…
And he does, but at least he is in the ER now…
What happens next is what Joe never thought it would happen…he has the Coronavirus.
For the past couple of weeks he’s been walking around like nothing is happening and he’s now realizing that he has been around a lot of people that could be now as sick as he is…
But that is not even the worst part…
Joe has now entered in the worst phase of the disease, he is in the ICU and he needs a ventilator in order to keep breathing…
Is that the worst part?
No.
Not even close to that…
The worst part, and what Joe is not aware of, is that you have your dear grandma Nana sick with the virus and in the same ICU as Joe. She is in her 80’s and needs a ventilator in order to keep breathing…
And what happens next?
Well, that’s when the worst happens…
The stressed doctors in the ICU need to make a decision.
They don't have enough ventilators for everyone because people didn't stay at home.
The virus has infected too many people and there are not enough medical supplies for everyone.
And now is when the worst happens…
The doctors in the ICU need to choose between saving your dear Nana or saving average Joe.
The are put in the really stressful situation of choosing between one life or another.
And who do you think they’d choose?
Your 80-year-old Nana or the 40-year-old Joe?
They choose Joe.
Nana doesn't have a chance.
Nana didn't have a chance because Joe didn't believe in the power of staying at home.
Now, let me ask you, how do you think Joe will feel when he recovers and knows that him being alive killed your dear Nana?
How would you feel if that happened to you?
How would you feel if your Nana was the one let to die?
How would you feel if you were the one chosen to live?
That, is the worst part…
And sadly, this is not fiction.
This is what’s currently happening in the rest of the world.
This is what’s happening in Europe.
I know this because my sister is a doctor in Madrid.
I hear what’s going on.
And the thing is, not everyone in the US hears these types of news.
Some are only seeing their immediate needs.
Some are only aware of their near world.
Some are only focusing on the short-term vision.
And they don't realize that their actions affect the life of others.
This is not the flu.
This is not an impulsive request from someone that doesn't want you to work.
This is not about the economy.
This is about humanity.
Do you care about other human beings?
Do you want to keep others safe?
Are you ok with the idea of infecting others?
Are you ok with being selfish and thinking only about your well-being?
Are you ok with killing someone because you didn't stay at home?
Maybe you are.
Then, this is not for you.
If you can live with that type of burden, definitely this is not for you.
But, if you can’t stand the thought of infecting others or flooding the health care system and making doctors choose between two human beings, then, stay at home.
If you haven’t figure it out yet, the objective of this story is not to make you stay at home.
This is not to convince you to listen to what it’s being recommended.
This is for you to realize that your decisions impact the life of others.
This is for you to understand that your actions have consequences.
Your actions will affect someone, either in a positive way or in a negative way.
Staying at home or going out will have very different outcomes for someone else.
What do you choose to do?
What will you do?
This is not about staying at home.
This is about saving lives.
This is about being a compassionate human being…
Please go ahead and share this with those that still doubt that their actions can affect others. Share it with those that think that staying at home doesn't do anything. Share it with those that don't understand the seriousness of this…
xoxo,
Sofia