by Amber Tichnell
I know this is a very difficult time for our state, country and world. I’d like to speak to you as a minority that I don’t think has had much if a voice in the public arena.
I have a Primary Immune Deficiency (PID — specifically, Common Variable Immune Deficiency). My body doesn’t make certain building blocks (specifically IGG and IGE) that prevent infections. IGG is responsible for creating around 70% of the body’s antibodies. In order to stay fairly healthy, I have to receive an infusion of IGG, which is supplied by other people’s plasma, every three weeks. Without that infusion, I would become extremely ill and die. I still get respiratory infections regularly, but not as seriously. Before I was diagnosed, I was hospitalized 12 times in a single years. Due to past infections, my lung capacity is around 35% — and yes, I can still wear a mask when I’m out. Many people with PID are not able to create antibodies to vaccines. So the COVID vaccine only helps them when others are vaccinated.
I’m writing because we, the immunosuppressed, are tired. We’re exhausted from bearing the weight of this pandemic. I, along with most of us that have PIDs, cancer, organ transplants, HIV, etc., had to self-isolate for a year until the vaccine became available. We watched online as people called us cowards. Then, when people found out the severity of our conditions, they said, “Oh! Well, you should stay home. You’re sick!”
But why? Why do we have to give up our lives and live under house arrest because others refuse to either wear a simple mask or get vaccinated? It’s the epitome of selfishness. We’ve waited and waited for others to come around and it’s just not happening! I cannot express the extreme frustration.
Right now, 44% of hospitalized breakthrough cases are among the immunocompromised, despite us making up 3% of the population. These numbers include the categories I listed above. However, there are those who are considered extremely high risk, but not necessarily immunosuppressed: those with diabetes, obesity, asthma, dementia, advanced, age, etc. All are more likely to be hospitalized and/or end up on ventilators. Including the above brings the immuncompromised from around 3% to over 40 % in West Virginia.
In November, I had spontaneous double carotid dissections. It’s a very rare condition not related to my immune deficiency — just bad luck. They still don’t know what caused it. It was a God given miracle I didn’t have a stroke and die. I needed an ICU bed and an emergency stent placement. Ruby had a two-day wait for ICU beds due to COVID patients. I had to be transported to Allegheny General in Pittsburgh. My point? I almost had a horrible outcome from COVID without even having COVID. I could have left my then-15-year-old daughter without a mother as they tried to find a bed for me, then transported me to Pittsburgh instead of two minutes away — all due to COVID patients tying up beds.
This isn’t about people’s “freedom” from wearing masks. This is about people being able to leave their homes and not get sick. This is about people not dying from a virus that could have been controlled in our country a year ago if people had cared enough to put one another first instead of being self-serving. We now have people dying because there aren’t enough hospital beds. I’m counting down the days until that’s me or one of my friends. Who will explain that madness to my 16-year-old daughter? Will the person who didn’t wear a mask or get vaccinated tell her that their freedom was more important than my daughter having a mother?
So please help to control this outbreak for those of us who would like to live again — to have the freedom to go outside and attend our child’s school activities. Or grocery shop. Or eat in a restaurant. I would love to have a semblance of a normal life for myself and my child without the fear of dying from a controllable disease.
Amber Tichnell lives in Independence, W.Va. This essay was adapted from a letter she sent to members of the West Virginia Legislature.
