#prora

Sans titre - Allemagne - 2024

photographie argentique - Kodak tri X 400

Urlaub auf Rügen Ende Juni

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In the past three days the following tragedies have occurred, just in my small corner of the world:

A co-worker and friend was hideously murdered by her ex-husband, leaving three young children motherless and forever defined by their father’s brutality.

A dear, long time friend, now on her 27th day in the hospital fighting COVID, struggling for her life and on a ventilator, is unaware that her 33 year old son died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack two nights ago. He beat addiction only to have this happen. He leaves behind a sister, who is planning his funeral and trying to figure out how to break this news to her mother when - if - she survives COVID.

Another friend since childhood died yesterday from COVID complications. At least they allowed his wife to be with him as he took his last gasp of breath.

My daughter, on her 14th day of COVID, racked by fever and pain, exhaustion and sadness, had Christmas with her 4 and 6 year old sons via Zoom. She has not touched them for well over two weeks, knowing she had been exposed to the virus.

I’ve seen a young man with COVID being told by his boss that he has to come to work, or lose his job, at the group home for adults with developmental disabilities “because they’ve all had it or are sick with it now anyway.”

In the past month I have been witness to two dear families dealing with the suicides of sons; young men of promise for whom living became too painful. And the number of people in my circle whose parents or grandparents have succumbed to COVID , or whose deaths may have been avoided in a healthcare system not taxed beyond limits by COVID, has been heartbreaking.

I know people afraid of losing their homes, going without medical or dental care because it is either pay the heat bill or pay for removing an abscessed tooth.

I’m doing all I can. I’m donating, praying, providing clothing, food, money for shelter ... and it’s never enough.

I implore individuals to wear a mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands.

I implore our country to:

Normalize seeking help for mental illness.

Raise minimum wage to living wage.

Provide healthcare - including mental wellness - for all.