An inside look into living with COVID-19

Susan Coppock, the photography teacher at San Dieguito Academy, had been feeling fairly unwell for a few days before she called her doctor, worried about COVID-19. “He took one look at me when we were video chatting and he said ‘I want you to go to the hospital right now.’ He said I should have been in the hospital at least a day before.”

Coppock tested positive for COVID-19, while simultaneously enduring pneumonia from Aug. 5 through Aug. 11. “I had every single symptom that COVID has, except for losing my sense of taste and smell. I had a fever every day, a cough, chills, my teeth were chattering so much I thought they might break, I had aches, pretty much everything. Shortness of breath was the toughest part, though,” Coppock said. 

In addition to the many symptoms she endured, Coppock also described her experience in the hospital. 

“When the doctors walked in the room, they put on all of this protective gear, and when they left, they would take it all off and throw it away. When I coughed, the doctors would scatter,” Coppock said. 

The doctors were still learning which made the hospitalization, even more, intimidating for Coppock. 

While Coppock was hospitalized, the doctors wanted to aid the virus treatment with plasma, although none could be found.

“When I was in the hospital, I remember they said that they were looking for plasma for me every day but they couldn’t find any. I remember thinking that ‘this is sad. This is really sad that they couldn’t find plasma for people,” Coppock said. 

Because of this, Coppock vowed to donate plasma, herself, once she had recovered. She began to look into the process for donation, which included many verifications that Coppock had had the virus. She needed documentation for proof of the coronavirus, and doctor’s approval which allowed her to donate plasma on Oct. 4. 

This mindset, to help and educate people about the virus, has been one of Coppock’s guiding principles since she has recovered. “The more that I can educate people, the better I feel that it’s worth me going through that,” Coppock said. 

“I know how dangerous this disease is; I was a healthy person and I had no underlying issues before,” Coppock said. 

She wants to emphasize the importance of wearing a mask, washing your hands, and social distancing. “It is frustrating for me to have it be treated so lightly when in reality, it’s not at all,” said Coppock. “I really want people to know how dangerous this disease is.” 

Above all, Coppock is appreciative of the love and support of the people around her.

“What came out of it was how much love there is for people.  It was just really neat to see how many people love and care for you. That’s what I’ll take away forever. You know that people care. That’s a really wonderful thing to know that you are surrounded by that in life,” Coppock said. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in donating plasma, once recovered from COVID, check out this resource to receive more information.