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I Am One of the Lucky Ones: A COVID-19 Survivor Reflects

By Steve Padilla

05/07/2020
in Community Voices, Feature, Featured, Features, Health & Fitness, News
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I Am One of the Lucky Ones:   A COVID-19 Survivor Reflects
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Our community has known the fear and frustration wrought by an emerging pandemic before. A lethal novel virus for which there was no therapy, vaccine or cure. A terrible social isolation painful enough in health and totally devastating when facing death. We have known the awful sense of separation from a society unconcerned because most were not personally touched by a loved one, friend or neighbor sick with a mysterious illness. The elders among us lived it, my generation witnessed it, and today the young and emerging generations know it only as history — a time when HIV/AIDS was a death sentence.

Today, in a world made much smaller by technology, we are watching in horror as a new threat many times more virulent creeps across the globe. This time, the invisible enemy strikes within all communities without regard to race, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation. This time, because the threat extends so far, the global community is making a gigantic and early effort to combat it.

The novel coronavirus has changed the world both temporarily and permanently. It dominates our news cycles, threatens the global economy and could overwhelm our health care systems. Anyone, regardless of health or age, can become suddenly and critically ill. I know — it nearly killed me.

I am a proud gay man of color and a grateful COVID-19 survivor. In the more than three weeks from diagnosis to coming home from the hospital, I rapidly went from feeling as if I had a bad flu, to struggling to breathe and being critically ill. In intensive care, I was placed on a ventilator for 11 days and put into a medically induced coma. I lost 27 pounds and one of my lungs partially collapsed. It was the sickest I’ve ever been and the scariest ordeal of my life. But I’m one of the lucky ones because I made it.

Sadly, as we confront COVID today, we are seeing some things we have seen before. Misguided and fearful people giving in to selfish concerns and irresponsible behavior all justified because only a “minority” of people have been sick or died from the virus, a false sense of personal distance from a growing threat. I am as frustrated as anyone that I can’t dine out and that our businesses are in crisis. Many are suffering today, not just those who are sick. But I know this is not permanent and that life and health must be the priority.

There was a time when the LGBTQ community had to stand and fight to mobilize world concern about HIV/AIDS, and to change hearts and minds about our place in society. That movement forced great progress, as today HIV/AIDS is a chronic, not terminal, condition. Today, my pride and my hope are that our community can be again thundering voices of reason, practitioners of compassion and examples of responsible acts and enduring love.

 

Steve Padilla is chairman of the California Coastal Commission, former mayor of Chula Vista and currently represents the 3rd District on the Chula Vista City Council.

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COVID-19 and San Diego’s HIV/AIDS Community

COVID-19 and San Diego’s HIV/AIDS Community

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Volume 4, Issue 9, February 2023

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What started as a personal social media project vi What started as a personal social media project via Instagram during the pandemic, Hillcrest San Diego has become a 10K subscriber resource for news, history, memes, and all things Hillcrest. We caught up with Rick Cervantes the force behind the account to get to know more about the motivation behind it, the plans for the Instagram account and the upcoming inaugural #hillcrestsandiego Honors with its reception schedule for Monday February 6 at Uptown tavern to honor local community members and organizations.
Read the full Interview on the link below
http://ow.ly/OJ9k50MIEBZ
Our community has been built on the need for resou Our community has been built on the need for resources and support, and sectors in our community have also been called to create organizations that enrich and serve their own specific needs. One such organization is the San Diego LGBTQ Coalition.  Read full article on the link below
https://lgbtqsd.news/san-diego-black-lgbtq-coalition-a-stronger-front-for-the-betterment-of-the-community/
Read all our February Issue Articles on our websit Read all our February Issue Articles on our website!
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our on our Digital edition courtesy of issuu!
https://issuu.com/sdcnn0/docs/lgbtq_news_february_2023
They are fresh off the press! They are fresh off the press!
The February Issue is OUT Today! Pick up a copy a The February Issue is OUT Today! 
Pick up a copy around town!
We are Welcoming February with a NEW Issue! We are Welcoming February with a NEW Issue!
Black History Includes Black LGBTQ History! Black History Includes Black LGBTQ History!
Are you thinking about having work done on your ho Are you thinking about having work done on your home that will cost more than $500 in labor and materials? If so, you should take precautions before hiring a contractor. Any person providing home improvements or repairs above the $500 handyman exception is required to have a state issued license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Read more on the link below 

https://lgbtqsd.news/dont-fall-victim-to-unscrupulous-contractors/
San Diego Foundation has opened its Common Scholar San Diego Foundation has opened its Common Scholarship Application with $3.5 million in scholarships available for local college students. Students can apply at SDFoundation through March 8, 2023. Get all the details on the link below.

http://ow.ly/bq1C50MvOMH
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