Editor’s Note: In today’s issue COVID-19 survivor, Alicia Morrison, shares her story.
By Alicia Morrison
My name is Alicia Morrison, and I am a 34-year-old Survivor of COVID-19.
I was led to share my story of survival not only to help bring about awareness, but to also to glorify God for bringing my two children (Ava, age 3 and JaKayla, age 9) and myself through this pandemic.
I give all glory to God for healing my body and for not allowing my two children to become sick at all while I was sick.
On Wednesday, April 29th, I became very ill. I ran a high fever that night of 102.4.
My whole body felt like it was on fire especially my feet.
I didn’t have any sore throat or coughing at this time; therefore, I didn’t think that it was the Coronavirus.
I thought I was coming down with a common cold or unknown allergies. So, as the days went by, I would feel fine in the daytime, but at night was when I felt the worst.
I was taking Tylenol Cold the daytime and night time capsules, and then I started taking the blue Tylenol Cold liquid. None of these things were helping.
It was helpful for the fever for a couple of hours, but then the problem kept coming back.
I then lost my sense of taste by Friday. I would cook meat, and I couldn’t eat it because it would taste salty. So for a whole week, I couldn’t eat meat. The only thing I could taste was bananas and Granny Smith green apples. I also, made my late grandmother’s hot tea recipe, which consisted of boiling tea bags, raw honey, lemon juice, and cough drops. I added another touch that I got from another person who survived the Coronavirus which was ginger root. I would drink this tea all day long for a whole week straight.
So, when Wednesday rolled around the following week, I still was feeling bad.
By this time, my taste buds were gone, my legs were numb, fever was on and off all the time, a dry cough had started, and my eyes hurt. I was tired all the time, and I just didn’t feel good at all.
I would lie in my bed and cry and ask God to heal my body and to keep me alive for my two daughters.
By Wednesday, May 6th, I knew I had to seek some help from my doctor. I called the doctor’s office to make an appointment, and they told me because I had some of the symptoms of COVID-19 that I couldn’t be seen in the office. I had to make a TeleHealth appointment. I got tested that Wednesday, and by that Friday, I got the dreaded news that I tested positive for Coronavirus.
I was sad, but yet relieved because the enemy was playing with my mind trying to make me think that I could have walking pneumonia.
I was heartbroken to find out that I tested positive, but I was glad to know what my ailment was.
TeleHealth instructed me to quarantine for seven days, and told me when I was three days of having no fever that I would no longer be contagious.
TeleHealth also told me that my two children should quarantine seven more days after I come off quarantine.
I called back to my doctor‘s office and spoke with another doctor, who called me virtually. I would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Shealy of Dillon Family Medicine, who was not my regular doctor, but was very kind to me during this difficult time for me. She prescribed me some medicine for the cough, but mostly she seemed very concerned.
My kids and I did just this. My aunt from Greenville and Latta, and my mama brought things that I needed and dropped them off on the steps while my kids and I watched them from the window. We couldn’t be around our family during the most difficult time because my mother’s oldest brother had passed away. We weren’t even able to go to his funeral. So, on top of being tested positive for Coronavirus, sick, and feeling at times like I was going to die myself, I was grieving the loss of a very special Uncle. So, it was like Lord what more can my heart take, because before my Uncle passed away, my baby sister husband got killed, and then my late Grandmother’s nephew had passed away. So, death was all around my family, BUT yet God saw fit to let me live and survive this Coronavirus. Also, my 2 children were NEVER sick. They showed no symptoms the whole time I was sick, and for that I am forever thankful to God. I want people to know that this pandemic is very much so real. Before I tested positive, I was very cautious. Everyone thought I was being too careful, but I knew I didn’t want to be sick and then who would care for my children? Then the unthinkable happens, and I tested positive. I don’t know how and why, but I’m grateful that the Lord has let me live to share with all of you! I am a LIVING TESTIMONY! I am not ashamed to say that the Lord healed my body from Coronavirus. I felt like I was on my death bed (that’s how sick I was and that’s how bad I felt in my body), tears would just fall out my eyes. I thought about my kids, I thought about life, I thought about the unfinished work that I know God has for me to do here on this earth, and I begged God to heal my body. He gave me 2 scriptures while I was sick and progressing to healing: Isaiah 41:10 reads “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold you with my righteous right hand.” The other scripture was Jeremiah 17:14 which reads “Heal me, O Lord and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my praise.” These 2 scriptures the Lord brought to past because he has healed my body and saved me from the Coronavirus. I am forever thankful to God for all He has done for me and my two children. As of May 18, 2020, I can taste my food again (stomach still recovering from not being able to eat meat for a week or so), no fever at all, no cough, and God has given me my strength back. I just wanted to share my Testimony of Survival. I said this was ALL God because when no one was there with me; no Doctor, no family, or friends, Jesus was right there with my kids and I. He made sure I recovered from this pandemic, and He made sure to keep my children from getting sick. Some find it strange for us three to be in the same house, and I was the only one sick, but I don’t find it strange, I believe God was honoring my request. I am alive to share with everyone that God is still yet in the healing business. As a Christian, I believe that when God brings you through something that could possibly help someone else, then it’s not for you to keep it to yourself, but to share of God’s goodness. We are overcomers by others testimonies. I pray that as this testimony of survival reaches others, that everyone will take this pandemic serious, but also get our soul right with God. I believe this is a time to ask God to search our hearts and lives, and to gain a closer relationship with Him. After this test, I will never be the same. I will continue to share my testimony of survival with the world so that everyone will know that God is a healer if we believe. I will leave this last scripture with you all because it’s one of my favorite ones. Out of all the things I have been through in my life, this was one of my favorite scriptures that I turned to: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19
God bless!
