Embracing the Struggle

An (abridged) comment on Kimberly Fosu’s open-hearted pandemic story.

Jody Alyn
The Shortform

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A magnolia blossom surrounded by its branch of leaves.
Photo credit: Jody Alyn 2023

2020

The pandemic descended as my daughter joined a small OB/GYN practice serving five rural counties. An MD, my baby kept delivering babies and performing surgeries while masks and goggles were storehoused and stolen. Front-line providers could not get protection. They died in droves.

When we could, our family all got vaccines. Science, the situation, and societal protection of the vulnerable demanded that of us.

Others made different decisions or the same decision reluctantly.

In fear, everyone allowed their various viewpoints to be weaponized and divided when we could’ve used our differences to discourse toward finding common good. Truth was twisted, trampled and left by the side of the road to die by those entrusted to lead.

2023

Emerging evidence and virus evolution might point to new choices. Or not.

Regardless, we must work collective miracles to heal rifts that still threaten our destruction more completely than any virus.

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Jody Alyn
The Shortform

Inclusion strategist. Justice advocate. Former therapist. Focus on social identity, implicit bias. Mom. G-ma. Life is a process—I write about it.