Rembrance, Empathetic Communication, Unified Fight against COVID

Our Mission

My aim is to raise awareness of simple acts that could help with the COVID pandemic.

Supporting the community to deal with Covid Pandemic

Touched By Covid Story

My aim is to raise awareness of a simple act that could help with the COVID pandemic. I have elected to call this “Touched By COVID”.

My hope is also that seeing the symbol will act as a trigger to open dialogue between people. I believe that the power of personal storytelling can enable better understanding of one another and so lead to us being better able to empathize with one another.

It is not an "either or" argument of health versus wealth. We are all mourning some kind of loss and have individualized reactions to our loss and individualized concerns and all are valid.

1. The Flower – for Remembrance of Victims.

2. The Shield/Mask – for Solidarity in Fighting COVID Effects

3. The Spoken Word – to encourage Storytelling to foster understanding

Remembrance

The pandemic has taken many lives. The true figures for deaths due directly to Covid are universally estimated to be in the millions worldwide. We are still unsure as to how many have succumbed due to indirect effects though there has surely been an increase in excess mortality over the 2 years of the pandemic. Regrettably, there is an expectation that these figures will increase though hopefully more slowly.

Of course we should all look to the future and try to get on with our lives but we should not forget the fallen nor those still suffering as a result of the pandemic. I hope to be able with all your help create a site to commorate the lost with a collage of photos and videos of friends and families during more happy times when those that have suffered were still with us.

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Perspectives on Fighting the Effects of the Pandemic

In the early days of the pandemic there were 2 significant camps on how to address the effects of the virus: health versus financial aspects. Debates continue regarding relative risks to people and economies from measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and vaccination programmes. I hope that this site will challenge our understanding of the pandemic. I hope that we will reflect on how we come to conclusions using our hearts and minds and that this website will be a platform for us all to share our views in a safe space to better understand one another with a view to better management of this and possible future pandemics. Alas, I fear tthat we have not heard the last of global pandemics and we surely need to be better prepared in the future.

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TOUCHED by COVID

Podcast Series 1

First series of interviews with a number of people from around the world and from differing backgrounds. I ask them a little about themselves and also their experiences before and after the 1st year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Series 1 Episode 1: 7/5/2021

Touched By COVID - Physician and COVID-19 Literature Researcher

An interview of a friend and colleague physician who has a special interest in COVID research. He gives his personal view of the science behind the disease as well as his thoughts on the pandemic.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13PGJBW0VTjkZOdye1FFpyy7oUK4Q1ogH/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 2: 21/5/2021

Touched By COVID - Prolific Blogger on an NHS Intranet site

Today's episode showcases an interview with a colleague and blogger giving an alternative view of the pandemic as it affects those with hidden disabilities and those from minority social groups.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FkM_4BYqvksp9rsprliRtqnhWB_xN9SD/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 3: 4/6/2021

Touched By COVID - National President of a Minority Sport

Today's podcast has me interviewing the England National President of the Rink Hockey Association. The interview highlights challenges experienced by those involved in an indoor minority sport to practice and compete during the pandemic while being able to achieve financial viability and sustainability. Other similar organizations may be able to empathize with the plight of Rink Hockey and possibly learn lessons from their attempts at managing during these difficult times.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ighw9dpp0h_-BH1aLbT7TXx0ZHf7ekEW/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 4: 18/6/2021

Touched By COVID – Former UN Ambassador for Trinidad

Today’s podcast has me interviewing a resident of Trinidad that I have gotten to know through his association with my father. With his wide experience of diplomatic service, he also gives a refreshing insight as to what it is like living through the pandemic in Trinidad.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CrYw-iT0hsnJ4ANbO8TGwVPQJ6yIiSfM/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 5: 9/7/2021

Touched By COVID – A Kenyan Perspective

Today’s podcast has me interviewing a good friend of mine that I have known for years having worked at the same hospital. A consultant radiologist, she now lives and works in her native Kenya. Little news reports seemed to have come out of developing countries unless they have suffered devastating disasters. This interview hopefully will help to redress the balance in global storytelling.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q2hSwFYRN1jaFIRL0vE72NqZmLB8aHHF/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 6: 23/07/2021

Touched By COVID – Experiences of a Mother from Slovakia

Today I interview a good friend of mine that lives in Slovakia. She discusses coping as a single mother during the pandemic and the supportive role of close family members. She gives a personal reflection of her struggles dealing with mental illness within her extended family and describes how she is dealing with it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Noeku8nl-1zSodENqFVKpAeUXBOwcSZy/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 7: 06/08/2021 – Experiences of a Chaplain

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yP7Vx2SGcRphn4m9Hy65VQHgg6IMqIZQ/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 8: 20/08/2021 – Adverse Reaction to Covid-19 Vaccine

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xy_3-fyGr8kNE20irsY9ZlM1ciCC7oL8/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 9: 10/09/2021- Insights into Life on a Cruise Ship

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aAPNDGm5kt1HBmW6LB4Ww7zGWDDRFNNm/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 10: 24/09/2021 – Australian ITU Consultant’s Perspective

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fw0p6bidGaFfhcgoYIDUoZueF3ojuSg-/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 11: 08/10/2021 – Businessman in Canada

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gnKi5uucMakxaqy00hDuL5Ne1mUK_QTw/view?usp=sharing

Series 1 Episode 1: Thought For The Day : Robert Goddard