NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- As cases of the delta variant continue to rise throughout the nation, it’s easy to forget that many Americans are still trying to grapple with the losses that the first wave of the coronavirus dealt them.
“Tomorrow isn’t promised,” Pamela Addison told WCBS 880. While those words of wisdom might sound like a cliché to some, that’s how her husband, Martin Addison, lived.
The 44-year-old speech pathologist from New Jersey succumbed to COVID in April of 2020. In the wake of his death, Pamela was left to take care of their 6-month-old son and 2-year-old daughter all by herself.
In this week’s 880 IN DEPTH Podcast, we tackle the long-term side effects of the coronavirus — both emotionally and physically.
We speak to Pamela, who is still grappling with the loss of her husband and her unexpected widowhood. We also speak to Diana Berrent, an avid advocate and activist for Survivor Corps, a group that’s trying to raise awareness of the biological effects the disease has on adults and children even after they recover.
Addison, who also runs a support group for fellow widows, not only wants to encourage others who are in her shoes and might feel alone. Like so many others, she wants to finally put the virus in her rearview.
With the ongoing spread of the virus and various variants in circulation, she’s frustrated that there are still many people ignoring the facts...and the masks.
In regards to masks, she says, “It’s not a political thing. It’s a safety thing. You do other things to keep yourself safe. You put on your seatbelt. That’s not political. That is to keep you safe. And if you get into an accident, if you have your seatbelt on, you’re more likely to survive than if you don’t.”
She adds that by not wearing a mask, you risk becoming a lifetime member of a, “club that nobody wants to join.”
Listen to the full conversation with Addison and Berrent above, and on the Audacy app or wherever you get your podcasts.