SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS)- Juneteenth also known as Freedom Day, is an American holiday that memorializes the date June 19, 1865. An important date in history that marks the end of slavery, but on June 19, 2020 23-year-old Alicia Norman would be exposed to Covid-19 while celebrating the holiday in Chicago, Illinois.
When Norman found out that she was exposed to the virus, she immediately got tested. Unfortunately, her test came back positive and she feared for her life. Norman, has asthma, a weak immune system and she also lives with her elderly grandmother.
“I was really worried about the respiratory issues, because I know people with asthma are more susceptible to having respiratory issues,”said Norman.
Norman’s doctor is based in New York city and she was only able to do weekly phone calls from Chicago, Illinois. Norman feared that with lack of medical attention and compromising health issues that she would be hospitalized.
“When I first found out I started crying, and then I called my mom and she started crying. My mental health was very scary in the beginning for me, I was very scared,”said Norman.
On her second week of having Covid-19 Norman began experiencing back pain, headaches and a runny nose. And now she is almost in her 4th week of having the virus. Her chest gets tight when she is outside, and she is not able to taste or smell.
“As I started to live my everyday life and I realized my symptoms are not as bad, and that it was just like a regular cold. That’s the mindset I have to keep in order to get through this,” said Norman.
There is still no cure for Covid-19, but Norman was able to research on YouTube to see what regimens worked for other asthmatic Covid-19 victims.
“I’ve been taking vitamins daily. I take Black seed oil tablets, Vitamin C tablets, Vitamin D tablets and I take Emergent-C every day. I’ve been drinking detox tea because my doctor said that all viruses start in your intestine,”said Norman.
Norman feels as though her regimen is what is keeping her symptoms mild, but her doctor says that everyone’s body is different.
“I can have lung damage God forbid that I don’t, but I am just assuming that I don’t because I feel healthy. I am just so blessed that I didn’t have any respiratory issues,” said Norman.
