#MyWhy: Katie Shares Her COVID-19 Vaccine Experience
We’re so thankful that our providers and staff are among the first Oregonians to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and so are they! As our team joins the #ThisIsOurShot movement, we’ll share their vaccine selfies and stories, so we can celebrate each win together.
In Katie’s Words…
I am a healthcare professional and the mother of a medically complex child. My daughter had a successful kidney transplant almost three years ago, when she was only 16 months old. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve felt fear deep down into my bones at the thought of possibly bringing something home to my daughter that could claim her life. I fought my own internal battles and knew that I had to do whatever it took to protect her. I felt extremely discouraged at the battle looming before me, while others seemed to carry on like it was life as usual—as if there really was no pandemic. I was saddened by some individuals’ lack of humanity and concern for the well-being of others. Today, January 10th, I received my COVID-19 vaccine. As I sit here and write this next to my daughter, my body is literally getting ready to create an army of spike proteins that will help take down and conquer the SARS pathogen if it tries to enter my body. My body is working on building an army to take down the very virus that threatens my daughter’s well-being. That, to me, is SCIENCE. I mourn the 1.9 million deaths worldwide due to this awful virus and feel optimistic knowing that we have come this far in one short year. On behalf of all mothers of medically complex children, we thank you for your diligent, tireless work on the frontlines. Most importantly, thank you for choosing to vaccinate yourself for your family and for those who are most vulnerable in our society.”
– Katie C., Medical Assistant @ NW Portland