We're due for some happy news right now, and one Staten Island family just got that. They are currently celebrating after several terrifying weeks. Christina Paz is a 47-year-old mother of five. She's been away from her kids and her husband for the last two weeks while battling COVID-19.
Christina was a patient at Staten Island University Hospital-South. She is among the 75% of New York coronavirus patients who have gotten discharged from New York hospitals. It has offered a ray of hope in a state that's been hard hit by the virus, and obviously, it's something we all wanted to see. The video of Christina's discharge from SIUH has gone viral.
In the video, she can be seen being wheeled through a hall lined with those who helped in her recovery. It's emotional and a true testament to how much the medical professionals at the front line care about each and every patient. The footage is also an important reminder of all the people whom we are staying home and changing our day-to-day lives for.
New York City has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the country when it comes to COVID-19. For that reason, it's important to highlight the hopeful stories that have come out of the area. One of those is the story of Christina Paz-Pinco.
Christina is a wife and mother of five. She works as a real estate agent in Staten Island. She has spent the last two weeks fighting for her life at Staten Island University Hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Christina's battle was far from easy. The 47-year-old received critical care during the hardest part of her hospitalization. Family and friends showered her with thoughts and prayers during her 15-day battle.
Thankfully, Christina is part of the 75% of New York City coronavirus patients who have been discharged. She was deemed safe to return home. Before she went, however, she was given an unforgettable send-off by the staffers who helped in that recovery.
Christina waved to hospital staff in tears as she was wheeled through the halls. At the end, she was reunited with her husband for the first time in 15 days. Their hug proves just how much the husband and wife were happy to put this terrifying time behind them.
SIUH executive director Brahim Ardolic, MD, says Christina's story proves the strength of those battling coronavirus.
"This is a testament to the courageous providers who cared for this woman as well as her own fight to live," he told SILive.com. "We are incredibly proud of all the providers that took care of her and the providers across the country. This shows that we are much stronger together than this terrible virus ever could be."
Stories like these are part of a trend we hope to see continue. As people take social distancing and stay-at-home orders more seriously, we are starting to see small victories in the battle against the coronavirus. These spots of positivity are important in reminding us of just what is at stake.
A constant barrage of negative news is difficult to avoid during this time, but it's crucial to seek out the good news. In a 2016 article about negativity and stress for Forbes, Fabian van den Berg noted, "If you constantly experience negative emotions you will be subjected to stress and more sensitive to stressful situations. Being positive is the best defense against stress, after all."
He also explains that stress can impact your immune system. "If you experience stress, you release cortisol, the main stress hormone. Cortisol has a variety of effects, including on the immune system. The immune system is rather large and complicated, so below is only a small part, but it is sufficient for the point," he explains.
"Your immune system is nicely balanced; you have cells that deal with intracellular threats (Type 1) and those that deal with extracellular threats (Type 2). These two types are constantly shifting based on threats. One becomes dominant then settles back into a balance. Cortisol (or stress) kinda messes that up; under the effect of cortisol there’s a shift towards Type 2."
Keeping your mind and body healthy is crucial right now. We need stories that remind us that even in the bleakest circumstances, people are making it through. We need the hope that stories of survivors and progress will undoubtedly bring.
