You can leave your mask on.... 🎼 🎷

No one will ever understand the struggle to live with a chronicle illness during a pandemic. These past few days I have decided to release a bit since mid March and car rides and actually go out a bit and in places where I felt there is not so much people around, by the term 'out' I mean walking a long the sea side and pick up some food and make one errand that had to be done in months. That one day I had gone out, I had to experience a woman fighting with a shop assistant and demanding that she did not have to wear a mask, it was like punching in a whole lot of anxiety right in my face. The shop assistant was very polite and said that in their shop masks are to be worn at all times to protect their employees and other customers, but this woman continued that 'It is not by the law, so I can.' ... yes it is ! And to be fair it is not what you can and cannot do. What people are not understanding is wearing a mask can prevent you and others from getting sick, and most of all eliminating the fact that you could actually kill a vulnerable person. Because one just thinks a mask is for show.

No one will understand the struggle. People will still invite you over and think that now that the cases are low you will be able to attend. Having to say no is quite a bummer and it's not easy cause being alone and inside for months is stressful, causes anxiety and loneliness, and who wouldn't like to go out and enjoy the summer nights of our country !! The cases are low, but the risk is still living amongst us all. And if it's not us ( the vulnerable ) to decide after months of isolation what to do for the sake of our health now that the measures are relaxed and most of the people are living a 'normal' life ( what ever that means ) - than I don't know what measures are we suppose to be leaning on.

Meeting one person or two the risk is just the same for someone with a chronicle illness, and it does not just stop there. The question is where does that person work? Does he/she wear a mask at work? Is he/she in contact with people all the time? Does he/she goes out on the weekends? But where does he/she goes ? to a restaurant, to a club, at a friends house?? Does he/she social distance ? ... and the questions goes on and on and on.

So please, when you are inviting someone over do consider every single thing and all the right precautions. Because that one missing detail can cost someone his/her life, we are not certain how things may be or turn too but it's our responsibility to be responsible. It is not just meeting a few people, it is where those people are coming from and how cautions are they on their daily life.

As a CF'er I have been precautions as much as I can all my life, so please don't go out there without a mask and also spreading the word that masks are not preventing anything or that this pandemic is all a joke. Cause yes masks prevent you and your loved ones, It is not a joke - as some has lost their families and friends. If you have a different opinion and a different take on how to protect or not scared at all, do not put other lives at risks. Respect is a big word, but when it comes to practice it's bigger. Having a lung disease and having to wearing a mask can sometimes feels like suffocating. But If I can, you can.