1yr Update from the Director

1 yr Update… My storm has not stopped. I will try and keep this short. One year ago today my nightmare began. I was in the ICU for 3 weeks fighting Covid. I laid in the bed hooked up to oxygen in and out of consciousness. Waking up not knowing what was going to happen. I have fought so hard the last 365 day to “get better”. But I have been unsuccessful and I am still on the oxygen.
Many of you have asked how I am doing. I have been holding off on posting this because it is very difficult and not the outcome I had hoped for. I have been diagnosis with pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs) as a result of Covid. The scarring is non-reversible and does not go away. There is no cure and this will gradually get worse. I’ll spare you the details but you can google it. I have been declining. My latest cat scan shows additional scaring and my pulmonary function test results have declined.

I am a Covid long hauler. Honestly I am just tried of being “sick”. I still have shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, coughing, aching joints/muscles etc. It is overwhelming to have so many things going wrong in your body at once and the subsequent emotional/mental toll it takes.

I’m not giving up I’m still going to fight, but it is a different kind of fight. The fight for the best quality of life possible, to carry out my day to day activities and to send more time with my girls making memories before I physically can’t.

I have taken a host of medicines for the last year and nothing has helped. So I stopped taking all my medications and started my own holistic care recovery plan. I became my own advocate and have done a ton of reading and research. I have a host of vitamins, herbs and foods I have added to my diet. I am starting a new pulmonary exercise plan and plan on moving as much as I can.

PLEASE do not change the way you interact with me… So many have said “I did not want to bother you”. I want to stay busy. Angels will remain open. It is one thing that brings me joy and that’s what I need right now… joy and good distractions.

For those of you that donated to the Gofundme my children started when I got sick, I want to again say thank you. Your donations helped me pay unexpected medical bills and get through the last year.

I don’t mind telling you I’m afraid of this new journey. So send me all your good mojo and positive vibes. I am determined to bring some type of normalcy back for my girls and I.
-Elissa Darrow 💜

“Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” – Misty Copeland