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Fighting to Live During a Nationwide COVID-19 Lockdown

On March 15, South Africa waited with bated breath for its president to address new measures to fight COVID-19. Countless messages of anticipation cycled between family and friends in those moments. “Do you think schools will be closed?” “What will happen to our jobs?” “Will our hospitals be able to…

Hospital Smells Trigger Deep Memories of Past Treatments

Last week, I visited my doctor because I could feel my health slip-sliding down a waterslide and didn’t want to end up back in the intensive care unit. When I walked through the clinic’s double doors and pumped hand sanitizer onto my hands, I felt like I was immediately transported…

Looking Back at My Metaphorical Mountain

A memory popped up on my Facebook page recently that left me speechless. I think that sometimes we are so busy simply placing one foot in front of the other and plodding through our daily tasks that we forget to appreciate how far we have come and the battles we…