Covid Dairy Day 1: One of my grandmas presented symptoms of a cough and fever last night. She is 78 and works in the ER full time. She slept most of the day, and we kept her fever down with Tylenol, but now up to 102. Not sure it will help anyone to chronicle, but here we are.

Covid Diary Day 1: Her breathing is okay. She had a little confusion tonight when her fever spiked, but the doctor I spoke with is not concerned unless she has breathing issues. Another reminder: unless people have trouble breathing, keep them home.

Covid Diary Day 2: 4AM, and her temp is up to 102.2. As far as she’ll tell me, her breathing is fine but is complaining of a headache. She’s less confused than she was last night, which relieves me.

Covid Diary Day 2: At 8:30AM she was hungry and ate a good sized breakfast. She is a little less vigorous than she was at 4AM but her temp is down to 100. We are at a doctors office waiting to be swabbed from the car. I believe she only got this apt bc she’s a hospital employee.

Covid Diary Day 2: At our appointment, the nurse swabbed both of her nostrils through the car window. We did not get out. We are to expect results in 2-5 days. She’s sleeping now, very low energy, but breathing ok.

Covid Diary Day 2: She slept, got up on her own to change. She ate a piece of toast with butter and drank some lemon tea. I took her temp, 103.7, which is terrifying me. She seems more coherent than after the covid test. I gave more Tylenol after laying off bc her stomach hurt.

Covid Diary Day 2: She slept, her fever came down to 101.3, and she ate some egg noodles with a little sauce. She’s FaceTiming with my sister-in-law and is very happy and chatty on the phone. Moments like these are a relief and a win. She sounds more like herself.

Covid Diary Day 3: Her temp was over 101 since yesterday, but now it is down to 99.5. She’s had much more of an appetite today, but is still a bit weak. We’re all a little more calm today.

Covid Diary Day 3: Fever is back up over 102, and she’s not acting herself. Energy is definitely low. Another symptom I’ve noticed is with her dry mouth. My hope is that sleep helps her into tomorrow.

Covid Diary Day 4: Her temp is down to 97.0, but she is lethargic and distant. It took me 45 minutes to get her out of bed and into her chair by the window so could see the sun. She's also reporting a lack of taste.

Covid Diary Day 4: My grandmother has tested positive. I am beginning to cough.

Covid Diary Day 4: My cough remains, and there is a squeezing sensation at the top of my esophagus. There’s also some soreness in my jaw and neck. My grandma is resting and seems a bit weak.

Covid Diary Day 5: I feel fine. It’s progressively difficult for my grandma to get out of bed, lift her head, and respond to basic questions. The lethargy is hard to watch. She is breathing okay. She is eating. Her temp is consistently 100-102.

Covid Diary Day 6: We gave her as much food & hot fluid today as we could, figuring her weakness was due to a lack of calories. This morning was tough & she wasn’t very responsive. Tonight, however, she called me Soup Hitler and had enough energy to hate me. An upswing, I think.