Missing my Daughter: Reflections from a Disabled Dad During the Coronavirus

My thirteen-year-old daughter is sick. 

Cough, fever, and the rest. By now we all know the symptoms. 

COVID- 19? Who knows? There are no testing kits. 

What I do know is that I have to be especially careful as a high-risk person with cerebral palsy, asthma, and chronic bronchitis. So, I assume it’s everywhere – including in my daughter. 

I never thought I’d see the day. 

I have no problem isolating myself from others. Sure, I’m a nearly off the charts extrovert but I’m doing what I have to do. 

Being separated from my daughter, however, I wasn’t prepared for that. How do you go on without your heart? 

And, I’m lucky I suppose. If you can call it that. You see, like many parents, I share custody of my daughter and, even though this is not ideal in itself, I am fortunate to co-parent with her mom who has been understanding of our extraordinary times. 

So, here I am. I’m missing my daughter and I must say, “FaceTime is good but it’s not the same.” 

As a disabled parent, I have fought hard to keep my daughter in my life as much as she is. I don’t want to lose that. 

However, this is life and death, and I’m high risk even after she seems recovered. Moreover, with our systemic breakdowns in all this, who knows what any of us will be exposed to whenever we encounter others. We are in this for the long haul. 

There is one thing we can do though. It’s not easy but it is simple. Stay home. 

As much as you can, limit your contact with others. It is going to take all of us doing what we can to lessen the impacts.

Remember, you might be ok, but you are showing others love by doing your part.

Just as I love my daughter whom I miss dearly.