There is no doubt that since the COVID-19 pandemic began, millions of people around the world have been impacted drastically. You never exactly know when, where, or how you will catch it.

Things are seemingly only getting worse with this virus. It can be a frightening experience when you or someone you know contracts it – you can only hope or wish the worst doesn’t happen. 

Edward Anthony Ramirez is a 16 years old junior from Houston, TX. He loves to play the guitar and enjoys competing in boxing. He also likes reading every once in a while. 

Ramirez said he started to feel sick around May 28. He didn’t understand what was going on. He kept taking medicine but it wasn’t helping and his illness only kept getting worse.

“It started out with small coughs and my throat started to feel sore and each day it kept getting worse. After about a week, I went to the doctor to see what was wrong,” Ramirez said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) says that there are two types of testing; one being a diagnostic, meaning that it can “show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others,” and the second type of test “looks for antibodies that are made by your immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus…[and] should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection.”

After you are tested, it may take several days until you get your results back. Ramirez received his results on June 6 and came out positive. 

He was shocked and worried but felt confident that he was going to beat it. He was told to quarantine himself for three weeks. He didn’t know exactly when and where he got it, but he did have an idea. 

“I believe I got it at a grocery store because a couple of days later on the news it said that most of the staff had the virus, but kept sending them to work, getting more people infected,” Ramirez said.

A few days later, his symptoms started to worsen. He felt that his lungs were scratched periodically and he describes that his throat felt like sandpaper. Each day the symptoms kept getting worse.

On June 12, he just could not get out of his bed – he was in so much pain that he could barely move.

“Even sleeping it off was too painful,” Ramirez said. 

Despite the fact he was going through so much pain, it only lasted for one night.  The next morning, the pain he had felt almost disappeared, his lungs started to feel better, as well as his coughs. After eight days of being quarantined, he felt better and the pain subsided. 

“I never felt pain like that before,” Ramirez said. “It felt like a blade was piercing through my lungs with little moments to grasp my breath. However, my mom and dad helped me more than words and actions I can express. They made sure I was drinking enough water and kept talking to me to help me relax.”

After the passing of his last two weeks of quarantine, Ramirez went back to the hospital to take a second test. Within the next two days, his results came back: they were negative. He was very content and relieved. 

Given his experience, Ramirez spoke on his opinion of those who refuse to take the necessary safety precautions.

“If they were outside and contracted the virus, and brought it home to their families, how would they feel? You should always take precautions. Always wear a mask and stay away from large gatherings so you don’t put other people at risk,” Ramiez said.

Many watch the news and see how much our world is changing because of COVID-19 and think, “that’ll never happen to me.” No matter where you are, or how old you are, coronavirus is everywhere, almost nowhere is completely safe. Take safety precautions, practice social distancing, and wear your mask.

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