Final Project - Michael Kim

Trying to Keep Normalcy - Michael Kim

My mom, Soo Kim, is a registered nurse at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital who specializes in bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy. 

Also, this past winter, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. As a result, the nurse became a patient and underwent surgery at the beginning of the year.

After her surgery, my mom started going through her radiation therapy early in February and it continued throughout March. As a cancer patient, during the COVID-19 pandemic, my mother is at a higher risk of having a serious battle with the
disease.

Although her treatment and work make her tired, my mom insists on continuing to cook and work around the house to achieve a sense of normalcy.

My sister Cathy worked for four years throughout her college career looking forward to her graduation. Instead of walking across the stage in a cap and gown, Cathy is stuck at home trying to fill her time by trying to relearn how to play the piano.

Not only was Cathy's graduation set to take place this past month, but my mother and father also were supposed to be celebrating their 25th anniversary together as well as the end of my mother's radiation treatment. Because of COVID-19, we were all forced to stay home.

In preparation for Cathy's impromptu graduation party, my mom insists again on doing chores to freshen up the house for our Grandparents.

During this unprecedented time, although it may be hard, my family tries its hardest to obtain normalcy. For Cathy's graduation, my parents continued on with their plan to throw her a graduation party although no guests could come.

Instead of going to a restaurant in on-campus at the University of Pittsburgh, our family ordered food into our home for Cathy's graduation. Although it was takeout food, my mother insisted on putting the food out on plates to add a "homey" feel.

In order to help her daughter celebrate, my mother focused a lot on trying to have a proper sendoff for my sister after her commencement was canceled due to the virus.

My grandparents have always been a huge part of my family's life as they live only 10 minutes away. Because of the virus, we are no longer able to see them, but they insisted on spending time with us on this special occasion.

As her firstborn child, Cathy has always had a close relationship with my mom. Although her graduation was canceled, my sister tries to make the best out of the situation and spend more time with our family, especially my mother during this time.

Another result of this pandemic has been on my mother's health. As a cancer patient, my mother is considered immuno-compromised. This means she needs to be extra careful when out in public, including when talking to neighbors.

As a result of being stuck inside most days, our family took the opportunity of a nice day to go for a drive together.

Eating meals with our grandparents was once a regular occurrence, but due to the current pandemic, our families have been spending more time apart than ever. Although the epidemic has kept our family apart, we still try and find time to get together at least once every two weeks.

 As a healthcare professional, my mother is on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak. Although she doesn't come into direct contact with patients who are suffering from the disease, my mother has to deal with the stress that comes with working in a hospital at this time.

In order to show their gratitude towards medical professionals during this time, our neighbor, Mrs. Downey constantly offers my mom gifts of food, fruit, and other small tokens of appreciation.

According to my mom, wearing a mask for 12 hours a day is the worst part. Because of the shortage of supplies due to nationwide panic, my mother is forced to use one mask per three shifts. In order to preserve her mask, my mom places it in a plastic bag after she returns home as well as cleans it with a disinfectant wipe.

After a day spent at the hospital on her feet, my mother's favorite thing to do at night is to watch TV with her family. During this pandemic, we have been spending more time together than ever.