SALT LAKE CITY — As the number of COVID-19 cases in Utah continues to rise with a record-breaking 867 positive cases, two Utahns shared their stories of how the novel coronavirus has impacted their lives.
Robert Moody said COVID-19 began impacting his family, just like it did many others, with financial strain. His spouse was let go, and he, as a hairstylist, was also out of work. Quickly, things became more serious.
“All the sudden this thing you’ve read about affects our family,” he said.
Six members of Moody’s family tested positive for the virus in May, including his mother who had underlying health conditions. Unfortunately, his mom did not survive.
“We are all just trying to be supportive of each other, even though we can’t be together, through texting and calling,” he said.
While the virus was deadly for his mother, the other members of his family had much milder symptoms.
“We honestly thought I had food poisoning,” Moody said.
Now, Moody is sharing his story in hopes that people will see how serious the virus can be.
“Just act like everyone has it at this point,” he said.
After Memorial Day weekend, Kimberly Ishoy ran a high fever and her husband took her to the hospital. She also tested positive for COVID-19.
“What surprised me was how difficult it was and how scary it was,” she said.
Things went from bad to better to much worse, Ishoy recalled. She was transported to Intermountain Medical Center for additional help.
“This virus does this crazy thing where it suddenly becomes worse for no explanation that I know of,” she said.
Things were touch-and-go, and there was a time when Ishoy was preparing to be put on a respirator, she said.
“It was scary. I remember having to breathe very, very deeply and still the alarms were going off, showing that my oxygen level was not improving,” she said.
Luckily, it didn’t come to that. But even a month after being discharged from the hospital, Ishoy is still on oxygen.
She hopes people will wear masks and practice social distancing as part of their toolbox in the fight against COVID-19.
For the latest information on COVID-19 in Utah, click here.
