NETHERLANDS – A local therapist is creating a virtual organization for others to talk about their reports with the long COVID and offer encouragement.
“I Get It Cuz’ I Got It” kicks off Monday, March 27. Jude Vereyken, a former COVID survivor, social worker, and owner of JD’s Midlife Tools for Living Practices, leads the escape.
“I want it to be a welcome party so that other people have the ability to communicate about everything they want and know they’re not alone,” Vereyken told The Sentinel.
The organization meets from 12:00 to 13:30. Different Mondays through Google. Space is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is required 48 hours in advance.
Subscribe: Get all your latest and most unlimited news to our local coverage
Registrants will get an invitation link. Participants can come once or attend as many meetings as they are interested in and allow.
Vereyken became ill in March 2021. He said it took him months to figure out what was wrong, and even more months to start rebuilding his life. He suffered from what is now called prolonged or post-acute COVID syndrome.
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe U. S. Food and Drug Administration defines prolonged COVID as a condition that lasts 4 weeks or longer after recovery from an initial coronavirus infection, with symptoms such as:
“It’s been a long road,” Vereyken said. It’s just a slow process. “
As she struggles with fatigue, she relies on her husband, family, and doctor for support.
“I don’t know what I would have done without him,” she said.
Participants in the support organization can share their concerns, frustrations, worries and losses with others and receive more information about coping mechanisms. As a licensed therapist, Vereyken said she will also ask questions to start the conversation.
Registration must be done online in midlifetoolsforliving. com in the “events” tab.
— Contact journalist Evan Sasiela at esasiela@sentinel-switchboard. com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.