Living through a breakthrough COVID infection

It was the email I didn't expect, especially at 11:29 p.m. on a Thursday night. As I opened the email that said, "Your test results are ready to review," I assumed they'd be negative as I clicked on the button to view what the document said.

I was wrong. I felt shocked and, for a minute, I felt betrayed.

Through the pandemic in 2020 and into 2021, I wore a mask. I bought bottles of hand sanitizer. I didn't go to places that were breaking any health rules about gathering. I played it safe. I was doing everything right.

Then, I got the vaccine when the opportunity was available.

Getting the Pfizer vaccine in February, and my second dose in March, I was so excited, honored, and I felt safe all of a sudden. The summer had been sweet - visiting with people for a coffee, going into stores without a mask, and attending an in-person meeting or two. A COVID-free future seemed within reach not only for me, but for everyone else.

This summer, I guess I was feeling too safe and became one of those breakthrough cases we started hearing about. Living the life I do, going out into the public and writing stories, attending meetings and functions, I, still to this day, am unsure of where I was exposed to COVID-19.

As the contagious delta variant continues to circulate, more vaccinated Americans are developing these so-called breakthrough infections — defined as those that occur two weeks or more after completion of their vaccine regimen. At the time of my positive test results, 156 million Americans were fully vaccinated, and the 153,000 breakthrough cases only accounted for 0.098 percent of those vaccinated getting COVID-19.

What prompted me to go get tested was the fact I was sneezing and feeling like I was experiencing allergies due to all of the smoke we'd had in July. I had a free moment so thought, "why not just go get tested and make sure?" As that day progressed and the sun set I started to feel sick, so perhaps I knew deep down by the time I opened that email from the testing company the next day that I knew what it would say.

I still believe in the vaccine and am so glad it protected me from the potentially deadly virus and I didn't end up in the hospital, or worse.

I credit my Pfizer vaccine for only feeling sick for a week. Multiple friends and family members texted, emailed, and called daily to make sure I was okay. I was so thankful for contact as I stayed holed up in my house and in the yard. I was 'stuffed up,' had a fever, body aches and felt like I had the flu and, as I shared with those that I spoke with, I felt like I was hit by a truck. I monitored my oxygen levels constantly with my handy fingertip oximeter.

There were still stories to write, and not being able to leave my house for two weeks probably allowed me to write more than normal. Instead of in person discussions, I interviewed over the phone or via email (though I did manage to sit out in the back yard and start and finish the latest James Patterson book).

The worst thing of being positive for COVID was having to tell everyone I'd been around for the five days prior to getting tested. I was fairly confident I wouldn't get sick enough to go to the hospital, but what about an unvaccinated or immune compromised person I stood next to? All of a sudden I was "that person" who potentially spread COVID.

So, I survived though I still have a lingering cough and am still find myself feeling tired when attempting previously easy tasks. That will pass. I feel lucky.

Now, its back to the way of life of one year ago - wearing masks inside, using hand sanitizer, not congregating, avoiding crowds. It makes me wonder how long we'll have to deal with this coronavirus, especially living in a county where just about 50 percent of the population is vaccinated.