My plans to be my mom’s caregiver were derailed by a COVID-19 diagnosis

In May, I wrote about my optimistic plan to help care for my mother after a minor surgery. We were keeping our fingers crossed, hoping for only minor complications for both of us during the upcoming weeks.

Unfortunately, that’s not how things turned out. In fact, the hit of bad luck and poor timing was almost comical, and found me at the emergency department receiving a diagnosis of COVID-19 just 48 hours after my mom’s procedure.

After 19 years of living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and now eight years as a solid organ transplant recipient, I’m a bit of an expert at disease avoidance. Growing up, the big threat was always cold and flu season. I was, and am, always up to date on my seasonal vaccinations, and I’ve learned to keep hand sanitizer tucked into every corner and every pocket. Most importantly, I rarely take unnecessary risks with crowds, especially in the winter. Before this recent incident, I was proud to say I had never come down with COVID-19.

Receiving the diagnosis was so shocking that my sister and I thought they might have the wrong patient. The culprit was likely a birthday dinner I attended with my immediate family the previous weekend, a rare night out seated at a fairly isolated table. It continues to serve as a sobering reminder that nobody is exempt, and illness is always lurking. Even in the summer, even when precautions are taken, and especially when you’re immunosuppressed.

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July 16, 2026 Columns by Anna Jeter

My plans to be my mom’s caregiver were derailed by a COVID-19 diagnosis

COVID-19 and its aftermath

The impact of COVID-19 on heart-lung transplant patients is still not fully understood and, therefore, is taken very seriously. My initial hospital admission lasted six days. I received IV treatment for COVID-19 and two antibiotics to address a coinciding lung infection. After being discharged, I improved for a time but never fully recovered, and three weeks later, things went south.

After a mysterious day in which I became very weak and could hardly stay awake, I was brought back to the emergency department by ambulance. This time, I was admitted to the ICU with COVID-related pneumonia, sepsis, and norovirus. The last one was another diagnosis that had my providers and me scratching our heads. Unlike COVID-19, I have no idea where I could have picked it up.

Fortunately, another seven days of inpatient care set me right. While June was terrible, I’m happy to report that I’ve been enjoying a stable July at home, much of it spent poolside.

The real downside of all of this has been the way it has shaken my faith in my body’s resilience, especially when it comes to communicable illness. Six years of avoiding COVID-19 had perhaps given me a false sense of security, and the universe was very successful in correcting that mindset.

I am planning to forgo a few exciting events later this summer in the interest of my health, but it won’t be like this forever. My ability to take measured risks will return. But after enduring so much, I am definitely opting to prioritize my health and stability for the foreseeable future.

Before I leave this awful sequence of events in the past, I have to offer one final word of gratitude to my mother. She rapidly pushed through her recovery from surgery and her own battle with COVID-19 (she caught it, too) and was back at my side, caring for me sooner than we expected. She remains the most selfless person, especially when it comes to her children, and I am forever grateful to have her on my side during some of the toughest days.

Note: Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Hypertension News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary hypertension.