How We Got Through Covid Before Vaccines
@DeborahDiane (40293)
Laguna Woods, California
September 26, 2021 9:08pm CST
I'm sure everyone has a Covid story. For us, we have known several people who died from Covid, and several who became seriously ill. As a result, we were careful, but we also wanted to see at least some of our family. That is how we came to use our sunroom, combined with an air purifier, so we could safely enjoy family time together.
We have four daughters, but only one who lives nearby. She and her family would come visit us regularly, and they would sit out in the sunroom, which has an outside door and windows we opened on nice days. On Christmas, I even set their gifts and dinner out there before they arrived. My husband and I pulled some comfortable chairs up near the door to the sunroom, and ate on TV tables.
Between us, we ran an air purifier which is supposed to killed 99.9% of airborne viruses and bacteria, including Covid particles in the air. It also creates an air curtain, which kept their air out in the sunroom, and our air inside our home.
We felt very safe getting together this way, despite the fact that out daughter is a teacher and was in the classroom, her husband has a job managing a store which was open during the pandemic, and both of our college age grandchildren were occasionally seeing friends and working outside the house, too. They were good about wearing facemasks, both at our house and when they were working, which also kept everyone safe. Using our system, my husband and I avoided any viruses they could have passed to us.
Today, nearly everyone in my family is fully vaccinated, from my 93 year old father, down to my teenage grandchildren. Only the three youngest are not vaccinated, and they will be as soon as they are eligible. We saw our entire family when our oldest granddaughter got married this summer. It was great to be able to hug everyone, again, knowing nearly everyone was vaccinated and regularly wearing facemasks outside their homes, which we all continue to do.
How did your family handle Covid over the past year?
14 people like this
12 responses
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 21
@JudyEv - I'm so glad that your son's wife tested negative. It is so scary when it affects a member of your family. I hope your family continues to stay safe. We love this air purifier. We just replaced the filters in it this week. It contains both a carbon filter and a HEPA filter, and then uses some kind of pathogen killing "wave" on the air it releases. I saw on the news that even Dr. Fauci has put a similar one in his bedroom.
It even removed smoke from the air, which is a big concern here in Southern California with all our California fires right now.
We used the Winex air purifier from Amazon, but there are other brands, too.
4 people like this
@franxav (13837)
• India
27 Sep 21
We have a large family as we are a foster home. We have a little campus and spacious garden. So the children could spend their time without too much problem. We shut the gate and we didn't go out during the lockdown. No visitors were allowed to enter. But, now, our life is much relaxed. Most of the adults are vaccinated. Yet, we have not thrown cautions to the wind .
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 21
@franxav - I am so glad that you have a spacious garden and your foster family were able to stay together and stay safe. That is awesome! I'm also glad the adults are vaccinated and, hopefully, the children will be soon, too. Stay safe!
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
27 Sep 21
Except for my 17-year old son, the people in my household are fully vaccinated including our house help. We have acquaintances and distant relatives who got covid and some passed away. It’s no joke and we are trying our best to be healthy. I use essential oils in purifying our air in the house. Somehow that has helped. All the rooms in the house including our car have diffusers.
3 people like this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
27 Sep 21
@DeborahDiane I diffuse purification essential oil 3 times a day to clean the air. Sometimes I use thieves and lemon. I use the same in the car. If you are a member of young living they have diffuser for the car. Other than Dottera, Young Living has the best quality essential oils I've ever tried. And I have four young living diffusers.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 21
@toniganzon - I'm glad everyone in your family has been vaccinated. I have also used essential oil diffusers in our living room and bedroom, too. I didn't know I could get one for my car. What specific oils do you use in yours?
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Sep 21
@toniganzon - Thanks for the tip. I really like using a diffuser to clean the air in our home. I use a combination of eucalyptus and peppermint. It makes the air smell really fresh, and eucalyptus is supposed to have germ killing properties.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16763)
• China
27 Sep 21
Nice to see you here ! Glad that your whole family is safe and fine !Sounds like your air purifier really does it work ! Our city has not had cases of Covid-19 for more than one year,but we are all cautious and wear masks if go out.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16763)
• China
28 Sep 21
@DeborahDiane Here you aren't allowed in the malls and other public places without wearing a mask.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 21
@changjiangzhibin89 - I am glad you are all still cautious. It drives me crazy that so many American refuse to wear masks. It would save lives, not just from Covid, but from other illnesses. Americans are spoiled.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Sep 21
@changjiangzhibin89 - I wish people were not allowed in malls here without a mask. I was just at our local mall this morning. Most of the sales people were wearing masks, but only a few of the customers. I wore my mask. I wish more people did.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
27 Sep 21
We stayed away from our family and friends... Our family don't believe Covid is a real thing so it's better not to be around any of them. We are vaccinated but they aren't.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
27 Sep 21
@DeborahDiane Hmm... I wouldn't classify you as a "bit" of a nerd... You're probably more of one than I am and I tell everyone that I'm a nerd. 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 21
@DaddyEvil I take being called a nerd a compliment! Sorry to overwhelm you with all that data. It was probably more than you really wanted to read. It is a common fault of mine! I should have just said, "Keep being careful," and left it at that!
I take being called a nerd a compliment! Sorry to overwhelm you with all that data. It was probably more than you really wanted to read. It is a common fault of mine! I should have just said, "Keep being careful," and left it at that! 2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
27 Sep 21
@DeborahDiane Don't ever worry about overwhelming me with information... I tend to do that to people, too. I WANT all the information I can get!
Usually, when I see the person I'm talking with eyes start to glaze over, I know I should shut up. 
1 person likes this
@rakski (122983)
• Philippines
28 Sep 21
@DeborahDiane I am hoping that my kids get vaccinated soon. It might not really protect them 100% but still, it has some kind of protection to lessen the symptoms
1 person likes this
@rakski (122983)
• Philippines
29 Sep 21
@DeborahDiane we all hope and pray for that
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Sep 21
@rakski - I agree with you. I hope my youngest grandkids can get vaccinated soon. It may not prevent them from getting Covid, but it could protect them from dying or having long-lasting symptoms of the disease. The vaccine is definitely worth it.
1 person likes this
@May2k8 (18359)
• Indonesia
27 Sep 21
Since the first time covid was discovered in our country, we reduce the time to leave the house. We are waiting for the time when masks are needed to at least prevent them from getting in the nose and always put clothes in the washing machine after going out. Now that my father and I have been fully vaccinated, in 2 months my mother and brother will receive the second dose. So what has not been vaccinated is my nephew who is under 12 years old. We also don't want to get too close to other people when we're talking.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 21
@May2k8 - I think you are being smart. I also keep my distance from people when they are speaking and I wear a facemask. I know several people who have become sick, despite being vaccinated, and one of those women is seriously ill. We have to be careful.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Sep 21
We stayed in as there is only the two of us.
We went nowhere we did not have to go.
This is not unusual though even before the Covid.
No vax for us.
Glad you did it your way.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139701)
• Roseburg, Oregon
28 Sep 21
@DeborahDiane Yes it is and there are some who still do not take it serious.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Sep 21
@jstory07 - Too many people are dying, when they do not need to. I wish people would just decide to either wear a facemask and socially distance, and/or get fully vaccinated. People might still get Covid, but would probably get milder cases and there would be fewer deaths. It is such a shame.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50250)
• United States
28 Sep 21
We are all vaccinated and wear masks. We only visit others outdoors from a distance.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Sep 21
@Tampa_girl7 - I am so pleased to hear what you are doing to protect yourselves from Covid. We are doing the same ... vaccinated and wearing masks. We mostly only visit others outdoors, with a few family examples, such as the photo I showed in this post. People are still dying of Covid, and I worry a lot about how vulnerable my husband is.
@sallypup (61117)
• Centralia, Washington
31 Oct 21
@DeborahDiane I hope your father pulls through. We are not church people and other than church and a store there isn't much to do where I live. So not going anywhere was pretty normal for us when Covid hit.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Nov 21
@sallypup - My Dad's Covid seems to be improving, but the hospital is also dealing with some of this other health issues. Hopefully, he will be well enough to return to his Assisted Living soon.
My husband and I were active in our church, but we have only been watching online since Covid. My husband's immune system is very compromised, and he does not need to be around other people in crowds. I enjoy staying home.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Oct 21
@sallypup - That is great that you were able to get through Covid easily. My husband and I have been very careful. I'm glad we have the vaccines, but they are not perfect. I just found out yesterday that my 93 year old father is in the hospital with Covid, and he had been triple vaccinated. However, they put him on Remdesivir and oxygen, and he is feeling better today. I'm sure the vaccine made a big difference in keeping him alive.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Sep 21
What a great idea that was to keep everybody safe.
With my daughter in Portland, there was mostly just Anne and me to be concerned about. Because of her challenged immune system I have done nearly all the shopping. We did go out for dinner at our favorite restaurant for her birthday and our anniversary, but ate outside and that was in June before the Delta variant became a huge problem.
My daughter works only from home and is very careful about masking if she does go out. She even has groceries delivered. I much prefer choosing all my food, especially vegetables.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Sep 21
@JamesHxstatic - I'm so glad to hear you and Anne have been staying safe. This has been a scary time. Outdoor restaurants, take-out, food delivery, and things like that have certainly helped. I use AmazonFresh for things that are heavy ... milk, juice, sparkling water, and things like that. Then, I just go to the grocery store to pick up my meat and fruit which, like you, I prefer to choose myself.
I'm glad your daughter has been taking precautions, too. Our oldest granddaughter got married in June and, you are right, that was the perfect time. Our whole family was able to be there. Our Covid numbers were at their lowest then. Things have picked up since that time. It could be a bad winter again. 
