about me
My life began to take a 180 degree turn on Saturday, April 25, 2020. I had a sore throat and a little shortness of breath for a few days, in addition to having body discomfort. That Saturday things changed, it was difficult for me to breathe and I felt a very strong pressure in my chest. After several calls and an endless wait, the doctor called us and decided to send us an ambulance. That was my first time in an ambulance to the emergency room, although it was not the last in the following months.
I spent 4 hours under observation terrified thinking it was the Coronavirus. When my oxygen improved, they sent me home. I left almost as I entered, not knowing what was happening to me, but I did have a small packet of paracetamol with me. Hospitals lacked testing at that time so I was one of many unconfirmed cases. I arrived home at dawn and there was my partner with a relieved face on the street waiting for me. We still didn’t know what was coming to us.
The first week was pressure in the chest, general discomfort, fatigue, shortness of breath, migraines, electricity in the body and of course, parts of the body that fell asleep. In the next one, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, cloudy vision, heartburn and constant pressure in the head appeared. With each passing week, more symptoms appeared without the ones I already had disappearing. It seemed like my body was possessed and I was trapped helplessly. Then hair loss, thyroid problems, muscle spasms, body aches, poor circulation, insomnia, frozen shoulder and of course, over time depression began.
I DIDN’T STOP CRYING, fear and despair had taken over me. I felt like I was on a roller coaster from which I couldn’t get off. The doctors didn’t know what to do. They prescribed me pills after pills after a phone conversation that didn’t last more than 5 minutes. In the end they said to my partner, LUCK! The poor were as lost as we were. We had an indescribable feeling of loneliness and abandonment. As time went by, trust in doctors began to disappear. Most of them didn’t believe me and told me that maybe it was depression, anxiety or stress. It was thanks to the Long Covid Facebook groups where I was able to confirm that I was not crazy, that my symptoms were real… I WAS NOT ALONE! There were people like me suffering all over the world with the same or very similar symptoms. They didn’t talk about us on TV, it seemed like we didn’t exist. What was happening?… Neither the media nor the governments gave VOICE to what was happening to us. In conclusion, we were the forgotten ones. I remember the first time I was able to sit in the living room for a while, it was two months later. I was excited watching people walk by from the window, but at the same time it created a feeling of envy in me. I wondered: did they appreciate it the way I did when I saw them? That window was my hobby for a long time and I fantasized about one day being on the other side of it.
Things that seem as simple as grabbing a glass of water, getting out of bed, eating, peeing, showering, brushing my teeth or hair were exhausting, sometimes even impossible work and I needed constant help. I wondered how my life had changed in the blink of an eye, from being physically strong (training 6 times a week) and apparently no health problems, to being where I was now.
Many questions arose daily… What happened? What had I done wrong? Why was this happening to me? I did not understand anything. I had lost control of my life, although the truth is I had never had it.
As the months went by, my partner Sabrina suggested I try something different, since the medicine had not borne any fruit until then. This is how Kerry appeared in our lives. Kerry opened the door to a world little known to me, where our sessions were based on working on energies and emotions. It was a breath of fresh air. There the first chapter of my new life began to be written little by little. Meeting NAT!!, an unique journey.
A process of transformation, growth, discovery and connection. A unique trip where I have met wonderful people like Kerry, Verónica, Lou, Esther, Jose and many more, who have guided me on this new path. Learning with them the tools that help me navigate every day of my life. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Also my two great angels who left in 2020 and 2021, my Father and my cousin Pedro. Their teachings, their positivism, their strength, their courage, their love of life and their affection will always remain with me. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Through this process I have been understanding that I was not happy, that I was stressed, that I did not know myself, that I did not like my job, that I did not like myself. I began to discover my fears, my limiting beliefs and well of course, how unkind I was to myself. Although I know that I still have some symptoms that prevent me from carrying out my daily life as I would like to, I know that this moment is the only thing I have and I have no excuse for not being able to enjoy it.
This is how my project was born, with the idea of being able to share my growth through my travels, my experiences, my ideas and my thoughts.
Enjoy it! THANK YOU.
PS: Thank you, Super Sab!!! for never letting go of my hand and being my rock.
Natalia Ortiz
Database Administrator
“In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”
- Robert Frost -
