Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Reliable Diabetic Retinopathy Grading Via Transfer Learning And Ensemble Learning With Quadratic Weighted Kappa Metric, Sai Venkatesh Chilukoti, Liqun Shan, Vijay Srinivas Tida, Anthony S. Maida, Xiali Hei

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The most common eye infection in people with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy (DR). It might cause blurred vision or even total blindness. Therefore, it is essential to promote early detection to prevent or alleviate the impact of DR. However, due to the possibility that symptoms may not be noticeable in the early stages of DR, it is difficult for doctors to identify them. Therefore, numerous predictive models based on machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) have been developed to determine all stages of DR. However, existing DR classification models cannot classify every DR stage or use a computationally heavy …

Association Of Cardiovascular Risk Profile With Premature All-Cause And Cardiovascular Mortality In Us Adults: Findings From A National Study, Ryan T. Nguyen, Vardhmaan Jain, Isaac Acquah, Safi U. Khan, Tarang Parekh, Mohamad Taha, Salim S. Virani, Michael J. Blaha, Khurram Nasir, Zulqarnain Javed Zulqarnain Javed

Office of the Provost

Objective: To assess the association between cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) profile and premature all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among US adults (age < 65).
Methods: This study used data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2006 to 2014, linked to the National Death Index for non-elderly adults aged < 65 years. A composite CRF score (range = 0-6) was calculated, based on the presence or absence of six established cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, obesity, and insufficient physical activity. CRF profile was defined as "Poor" (≥ 3 risk factors), "Average" (1-2), or "Optimal" (0 risk factors). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were reported across CRF profile categories, separately for all-cause and CVD mortality. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association between CRF profile and all-cause and CVD mortality.
Results: Among 195,901 non-elderly individuals (mean age: 40.4 ± 13.0, 50% females and 70% Non-Hispanic (NH) White adults), 24.8% had optimal, 58.9% average, and 16.2% poor CRF profiles, respectively. Participants with poor CRF profile were more likely to be NH Black, have lower educational attainment and lower income compared to those with …

Tumor-Associated Antigen Targets For Novel Immune-Based Strategies In Prostate Cancer, Amman Bhasin, Patrick Mille, Aditya Eturi, Andrew Iskander, William Tester, Kevin Zarrabi

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Prostate cancer remains the most common malignancy among men in the United States. Advancements in androgen receptor signaling blockade have led to landmark approvals for its use in patients with locally advanced and metastatic disease. However, additional novel therapeutic strategies for both hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant diseases remain ongoing areas of study. Thus, we turn to the growth of immuno-oncology, which has led to improved treatment outcomes for a variety of hematologic and solid tumor malignancies. Prostate cancers have shown only modest results with immune checkpoint inhibition in published trials, and innovative strategies are now looking into enhancing cytotoxic T-cell activity …

Dynamic Prognosis Prediction For Patients On Dapt After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation: Model Development And Validation, Fang Li, Laila Rasmy, Yang Xiang, Jingna Feng, Ahmed Abdelhameed, Xinyue Hu, Zenan Sun, David Aguilar, Abhijeet Dhoble, Jingcheng Du, Qing Wang, Shuteng Niu, Yifang Dang, Xinyuan Zhang, Ziqian Xie, Yi Nian, Jianping He, Yujia Zhou, Jianfu Li, Mattia Prosperi, Jiang Bian, Degui Zhi, Cui Tao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in conjunction with recent updates in dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) management guidelines emphasizes the necessity for innovative models to predict ischemic or bleeding events after drug-eluting stent implantation. Leveraging AI for dynamic prediction has the potential to revolutionize risk stratification and provide personalized decision support for DAPT management.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed and validated a new AI-based pipeline using retrospective data of drug-eluting stent-treated patients, sourced from the Cerner Health Facts data set (n=98 236) and Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (n=9978). The 36 months following drug-eluting stent implantation were …

Covid-19 Hospital Mortality Among Patients With Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A Comparison Between Public And Private Healthcare Services In San Luis Potosí 2020–2022, María E. Torres-Acosta, Rocío M. Cubos-Moncada, Alan Y. Martínez-Castellanos

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: During 2019, México’s total public spending on health was 5.43% of the national gross domestic product, making it one of the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that invested the least in developing public health systems. This study analyzes hospital mortality among intubated patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 according to type of institution in San Luis Potosí, México, from March 18, 2020, to April 7, 2022.

Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of publicly available information about mortality among intubated patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 with respect to the type of hospitalization institution.

Results: …

Unraveling The Genetic Architecture Of Congenital Vertebral Malformation With Reference To The Developing Spine, Sen Zhao, Hengqiang Zhao, Lina Zhao, Xi Cheng, Zhifa Zheng, Mengfan Wu, Wen Wen, Shengru Wang, Zixiang Zhou, Haibo Xie, Dengfeng Ruan, Qing Li, Xinquan Liu, Chengzhu Ou, Guozhuang Li, Zhengye Zhao, Guilin Chen, Yuchen Niu, Xiangjie Yin, Yuhong Hu, Xiaochen Zhang, Deciphering Disorders Involving Scoliosis And Comorbidities (Disco) Study, Pengfei Liu, Guixing Qiu, Wanlu Liu, Chengtian Zhao, Zhihong Wu, Jianguo Zhang, Nan Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Congenital vertebral malformation, affecting 0.13-0.50 per 1000 live births, has an immense locus heterogeneity and complex genetic architecture. In this study, we analyze exome/genome sequencing data from 873 probands with congenital vertebral malformation and 3794 control individuals. Clinical interpretation identifies Mendelian etiologies in 12.0% of the probands and reveals a muscle-related disease mechanism. Gene-based burden test of ultra-rare variants identifies risk genes with large effect sizes (ITPR2, TBX6, TPO, H6PD, and SEC24B). To further investigate the biological relevance of the genetic association signals, we perform single-nucleus RNAseq on human embryonic spines. The burden test signals are enriched in the notochord …

Development And Validation Of The American Heart Association's Prevent Equations, Sadiya S Khan, Kunihiro Matsushita, Yingying Sang, Shoshana H Ballew, Morgan E Grams, Aditya Surapaneni, Michael J Blaha, April P Carson, Alexander R Chang, Elizabeth Ciemins, Alan S Go, Orlando M Gutierrez, Shih-Jen Hwang, Simerjot K Jassal, Csaba P Kovesdy, Donald M Lloyd-Jones, Michael G Shlipak, Latha P Palaniappan, Laurence Sperling, Salim S Virani, Katherine Tuttle, Ian J Neeland, Sheryl L Chow, Janani Rangaswami, Michael J Pencina, Chiadi E Ndumele, Josef Coresh, Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium And The American Heart Association Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Science Advisory Group

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Multivariable equations are recommended by primary prevention guidelines to assess absolute risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, current equations have several limitations. Therefore, we developed and validated the American Heart Association Predicting Risk of CVD EVENTs (PREVENT) equations among US adults 30 to 79 years of age without known CVD.

METHODS: The derivation sample included individual-level participant data from 25 data sets (N=3 281 919) between 1992 and 2017. The primary outcome was CVD (atherosclerotic CVD and heart failure). Predictors included traditional risk factors (smoking status, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, antihypertensive or statin use, and diabetes) and estimated glomerular …

Harmonious Healing: A Review Of Music Therapy, A Humanities-Based Approach To Alzheimer’S Disease Treatment, Rohan K. Desai

Kentucky Undergraduate Journal for the Health Humanities

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease often characterized by memory loss, confusion, and overall cognitive decline. The aging global population has, in recent years, highlighted the fundamental lack of pharmacological treatments for individuals facing an AD diagnosis. In response, a growing body of research has shifted focus to non-pharmacological humanities-based interventions. One such intervention has been music therapy (MT). Music-focused measures have shown great promise as a method of slowing cognitive decline, but mixed results in the literature warrant the need for further investigation. Often, socioeconomic barriers can limit an individual’s access to drug-related treatments, but the affordable …

Effect Of Suprachoroidal Triamcinolone On Intraocular Pressure: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Altamash Shahriyar Ghazanfar, Aly Hamza Khowaja, Haroon Tayyab

Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Background: Triamcinolone acetonide is a synthetic corticosteroid with multiple ocular uses. Like other corticosteroids, it too is associated with ocular side effects such as increased intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma and cataracts. Suprachoroidal administration of triamcinolone is hoped to reduce the ocular side effects of the drug, especially rises in IOP. Our systematic review and meta-analysis aims to study this phenomenon.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of suprachoroidal triamcinolone injections on IOP.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods: We utilized the Medline, Scopus and Cochrane databases for this review. Studies published till June 2023, which …

Fluvoxamine Inhibits Th1 And Th17 Polarization And Function By Repressing Glycolysis To Attenuate Autoimmune Progression In Type 1 Diabetes, Yuan Zou, Jing Zhang, Fei Sun, Qianqian Xu, Longmin Chen, Xi Luo, Ting Wang, Qing Zhou, Shu Zhang, Fei Xiong, Wen Kong, Ping Yang, Qilin Yu, Shiwei Liu, Cong-Yi Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Fluvoxamine is one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are regarded as the first-line drugs to manage mental disorders. It has been also recognized with the potential to treat inflammatory diseases and viral infection. However, the effect of fluvoxamine on autoimmune diseases, particularly type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the related cellular and molecular mechanisms, are yet to be addressed.

METHOD: Herein in this report, we treated NOD mice with fluvoxamine for 2 weeks starting from 10-week of age to dissect the impact of fluvoxamine on the prevention of type 1 diabetes. We compared the differences of immune …

Health Economic Consequences Associated With Covid-19-Related Delay In Melanoma Diagnosis In Europe, Lara V Maul, Dagmar Jamiolkowski, Rebecca A Lapides, Alina M Mueller, Axel Hauschild, Claus Garbe, Paul Lorigan, Jeffrey E Gershenwald, Paolo Antonio Ascierto, Georgina V Long, Michael Wang-Evers, Richard A Scolyer, Babak Saravi, Matthias Augustin, Alexander A Navarini, Stefan Legge, István B Németh, Ágnes J Jánosi, Simone Mocellin, Anita Feller, Dieter Manstein, Alexander Zink, Julia-Tatjana Maul, Alessandra Buja, Kaustubh Adhikari, Elisabeth Roider

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in delayed access to medical care. Restrictions to health care specialists, staff shortages, and fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection led to interruptions in routine care, such as early melanoma detection; however, premature mortality and economic burden associated with this postponement have not been studied yet.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the premature mortality and economic costs associated with suspended melanoma screenings during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns by estimating the total burden of delayed melanoma diagnoses for Europe.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter economic evaluation used population-based data from patients aged at least 18 years with invasive primary cutaneous …

Streamlined Adeno-Associated Virus Production Using Suspension Hek293t Cells, Aditi A Kulkarni, Austin G Seal, Corinne Sonnet, Kazuhiro Oka

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are valuable viral vectors for in vivo gene transfer, also having significant ex vivo therapeutic potential. Continued efforts have focused on various gene therapy applications, capsid engineering, and scalable manufacturing processes. Adherent cells are commonly used for virus production in most basic science laboratories because of their efficiency and cost. Although suspension cells are easier to handle and scale up compared to adherent cells, their use in virus production is hampered by poor transfection efficiency. In this protocol, we developed a simple scalable AAV production protocol using serum-free-media-adapted HEK293T suspension cells and VirusGEN transfection reagent. The …

Ectoine, From A Natural Bacteria Protectant To A New Treatment Of Dry Eye Disease, Xin Chen, Na Lin, Jin-Miao Li, Haixia Liu, Anmar Abu-Romman, Ebru Yaman, Fang Bian, Cintia S De Paiva, Stephen C Pflugfelder, De-Quan Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Ectoine, a novel natural osmoprotectant, protects bacteria living in extreme environments. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of ectoine for dry eye disease. An experimental dry eye model was created in C57BL/6 mice exposed to desiccating stress (DS) with untreated mice as controls (UT). DS mice were dosed topically with 0.5-2.0% of ectoine or a vehicle control. Corneal epithelial defects were detected via corneal smoothness and Oregon Green dextran (OGD) fluorescent staining. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were evaluated using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescent staining. Compared with UT mice, corneal epithelial defects were observed as corneal smoothness irregularities and strong …

Phaeochromocytoma-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Presented With Cardiogenic Shock, Wong Lai Sze Alice, Yu Cheuk-Man, Hong Kam Fai Jeffrey, Tsang Man Wo, Wat Yiu Kin Jason, Tong Mei Wa Gensy

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Background: Phaeochromocytoma, on its own, is a rare endocrine condition. Patient that presents with cardiogenic shock as a result of phaeochromocytoma-induced Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is even rarer, as phaeochromocytoma classically presents with hypertension. Clinical awareness and understanding of this disease entity is important for early identification and appropriate management of this endocrine emergency. Case presentation: A 39-year-old woman presented with one day history of repeated vomiting associated with epigastric pain. Her condition deteriorated rapidly with acute cardiac and renal failure with cardiogenic shock after intravenous fluid infusion, requiring high flow oxygen and high dose inotropic support in intensive care unit. Subsequent …

Impact Of Kras Mutations And Co-Mutations On Clinical Outcomes In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Abdelrahman Yousef, Mahmoud Yousef, Saikat Chowdhury, Kawther Abdilleh, Mark Knafl, Paul Edelkamp, Kristin Alfaro-Munoz, Ray Chacko, Jennifer Peterson, Brandon G Smaglo, Robert A Wolff, Shubham Pant, Michael S Lee, Jason Willis, Michael Overman, Sudheer Doss, Lynn Matrisian, Mark W Hurd, Rebecca Snyder, Matthew H G Katz, Huamin Wang, Anirban Maitra, John Paul Shen, Dan Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The relevance of KRAS mutation alleles to clinical outcome remains inconclusive in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We conducted a retrospective study of 803 patients with PDAC (42% with metastatic disease) at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Overall survival (OS) analysis demonstrated that KRAS mutation status and subtypes were prognostic (p < 0.001). Relative to patients with KRAS wildtype tumors (median OS 38 months), patients with KRASG12R had a similar OS (median 34 months), while patients with KRASQ61 and KRASG12D mutated tumors had shorter OS (median 20 months [HR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.0, p = 0.006] and 22 months [HR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.3, p < 0.001], respectively). There was enrichment of KRASG12D mutation in metastatic tumors (34% vs 24%, OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4, p = 0.001) and enrichment of KRASG12R in well and moderately differentiated tumors (14% vs 9%, OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.05-2.99, p = 0.04). Similar findings were observed in the external validation cohort (PanCAN's Know Your Tumor® dataset, n = 408).

Gestational Diabetes Augments Group B Streptococcus Infection By Disrupting Maternal Immunity And The Vaginal Microbiota, Vicki Mercado-Evans, Marlyd E Mejia, Jacob J Zulk, Samantha Ottinger, Zainab A Hameed, Camille Serchejian, Madelynn G Marunde, Clare M Robertson, Mallory B Ballard, Simone H Ruano, Natalia Korotkova, Anthony R Flores, Kathleen A Pennington, Kathryn A Patras

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pervasive perinatal pathogen, yet factors driving GBS dissemination in utero are poorly defined. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a complication marked by dysregulated immunity and maternal microbial dysbiosis, increases risk for GBS perinatal disease. Using a murine GDM model of GBS colonization and perinatal transmission, we find that GDM mice display greater GBS in utero dissemination and subsequently worse neonatal outcomes. Dual-RNA sequencing reveals differential GBS adaptation to the GDM reproductive tract, including a putative glycosyltransferase (yfhO), and altered host responses. GDM immune disruptions include reduced uterine natural killer cell activation, impaired recruitment to placentae, …

Neighborhood Environment And Poor Maternal Glycemic Control-Associated Complications Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Leela V. Thomas, Claudine T. Jurkovitz, Zugui Zhang, Mitchell R. Fawcett, M. James Lenhard

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Risk of complications due to gestational diabetes mellitus is increasing in the U.S., particularly among individuals from racial minorities. Research has focused largely on clinical interventions to prevent complications, rarely on individuals' residential environments. This retrospective cohort study aims to examine the association between individuals' neighborhoods and complications of gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were extracted from electronic health records and linked to American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2,047 individuals who had 2,164 deliveries in 2014-2018. Data were analyzed in 2021-2022 using Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-square test for bivariate …

Evaluation Of Ar, Ar-V7, And P160 Family As Biomarkers For Prostate Cancer: Insights Into The Clinical Significance And Disease Progression, Ruan Pimenta, Feres Camargo Malulf, Poliana Romão, Giovana Vilas Boas Caetano, Karina Serafim Da Silva, Vitoria Ghazarian, Gabriel A Dos Santos, Vanessa Guimarães, Iran Amorim Silva, Juliana Alves De Camargo, Saulo Recuero, Bárbara V Lima Aguiar Melão, Alberto Azoubel Antunes, Miguel Srougi, William Nahas, Katia R M Leite, Sabrina T Reis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: To assess the role of the p160 family, AR, and AR-V7 in different initial presentations of prostate cancer and their association with clinical endpoints related to tumor progression.

METHODS: The study sample comprises 155 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy and 11 healthy peripheral zone biopsies as the control group. Gene expression was quantified by qPCR from the tissue specimens. The statistical analysis investigated correlations between gene expression levels, associations with disease presence, and clinicopathological features. Additionally, ROC curves were applied for distinct PCa presentations, and time-to-event analysis was used for clinical endpoints.

RESULTS: The AR-V7 diagnostic performance for any …

Chronic Wasting Disease: State Of The Science, Jason C Bartz, Rebeca Benavente, Byron Caughey, Sonja Christensen, Allen Herbst, Edward A Hoover, Candace K Mathiason, Debbie Mckenzie, Rodrigo Morales, Marc D Schwabenlander, Daniel P Walsh, The Nc North American Interdisciplinary Chronic Wasting Disease Research Consortium Members

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease affecting cervid species, both free-ranging and captive populations. As the geographic range continues to expand and disease prevalence continues to increase, CWD will have an impact on cervid populations, local economies, and ecosystem health. Mitigation of this "wicked" disease will require input from many different stakeholders including hunters, landowners, research biologists, wildlife managers, and others, working together. The NC1209 (North American interdisciplinary chronic wasting disease research consortium) is composed of scientists from different disciplines involved with investigating and managing CWD. Leveraging this broad breadth of expertise, the Consortium has created a state-of-the-science …

Safety And Timing Of Early Therapeutic Anticoagulation Therapy After Craniotomy, John M. Wilson, Kierany B. Shelvin, Sarah E. Lawhon, George A. Crabill, Ellery A. Hayden, Alan J. Velander

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: To date, there are few guidelines and studies to guide the timing of initiation of therapeutic anticoagulation (AC) after craniotomy. The goal of this study was to assess the timing, safety, and outcomes of patients following the administration of therapeutic AC after craniotomy. Methods: A retrospective case–control study was performed evaluating all craniotomy patients from August 2017 to July 2021. Cases were selected if they received therapeutic AC within ten days of craniotomy. Nineteen out of 1013 craniotomy patients met the inclusion criteria. Indications for therapeutic AC were diverse, including deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, dural venous sinus thrombosis, …

Advancing Virtual At-Home Care For Community Health Center Patients Using Patient Self-Care Tools, Technology, And Education [Letter], Cheryl Modica, Joy H. Lewis, Curtis Bay

SOMA Faculty Publications

Abstract

Introduction

Health centers are community-based, patient directed primary care providers that offer accessible, high-quality primary care within medically underserved communities. Screening for cancer and managing complex chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and depression are vital services for the vulnerable populations seen by community health centers. Delivering care for complex chronic conditions and preventive services using virtual models that integrate self-care tools and technology is an important approach to increasing access for hard-to-reach patients served by health centers.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the use of a virtual care model, applied using a systems approach and patient-driven …

Porter Et Al. V. Mccormack Et Al. - Warren Circuit Court (Sc 3717), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3717. Case file for L.R. Porter and Lizzie Porter v J. N. McCormack, John H. Blackburn, Henry James and Tom Potter (Warren County, Kentucky Circuit Court) relating to a restraining order secured by Luther R. Porter of Bowling Green to block the removal of his smallpox-infected daughter and the rest of the family to the local pest house. Includes affidavits of physicians, public health officials and locals familiar with the pest house. The restraining order was subsequently lifted by a Louisville judge. Also includes a 1902 Courier-Journal …

My Covid-19 Experience, Anonymous

Community Reflections

In this writing I talked about my personal feelings during covid-19 and experiences I went through being a highschool student during a global pandemic.

Covid Reflection, Anonymous

Community Reflections

The first couple of weeks of quarantine from the Covid-19 virus were not that bad. It was nice to spend more time with my parents and be able to just stay at home and do nothing. School was online for the first time and zoom was new to everyone. Teachers were very relaxed with the schoolwork and the zoom meetings. This lead to a lot of free time. I would mostly just play video games or spend time with my family since I couldn’t leave the house, and everyone was on edge about this virus. We would take precautions such …

My Covid Experience, Anonymous

Community Reflections

In 2020, our world was shaken by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Everyday life ceased to be what it once was. When Covid-19 began spreading throughout my area I was halfway through my freshman year of high school. I was in school every day from 7:30-2:45 and followed school with going dance. I was still getting comfortable with the change in my life that was being a high school student. Each day was an adjustment, but I was finally beginning to feel the ease of my routine when I received the email from my school that we would have two weeks off …

My Life Was Altered, Anonymous

Community Reflections

My life was altered in March of 2020. This pandemic created an unimaginable world. The cause of the COVID-19 pandemic still remains a mystery. My experience began on March 12, 2020, when my school gave us two weeks off to allow time for this illness to pass.

Remembering Covid-19, Anonymous

Community Reflections

The COVID-19 pandemic changed many aspects of my life, and personally it felt like it was for the better. During this extended period of time when I was at home doing school online, and not able to attend my extracurricular activities, I found out who I really was as a person. The whole quarantine time was like one long therapy session where you could sit and reflect about your past and future, and what you wanted to make of it. One main thing that everyone seemed to go through was finding new hobbies.

Covid Memory, Anonymous

Community Reflections

This document describes my experiences and reactions to the initial and outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Old Self Vanished, Olivia Anonymous

Community Reflections

Being an adolescent during the COVID 19 pandemic was something that I would never wish upon my greatest enemy. Growing up during a time of isolation was incredibly lonely and confusing. Instead of making connections and living a normal life, we were forced to hide behind masks and remain away from each other. In a time where I was supposed to be developing and gathering life experience, life was taken away from me.

My Teenage Covid Experience, Anonymous

Community Reflections

It was March 2020 and COVID 19 headlines took over the news. This new disease had the world so frightened. It was quickly becoming a pandemic, which is something I had never seen in my lifetime. In fact, it was sometime that neither had my parents nor grandparents experienced. The funeral home in my town had a huge amount of body bags in anticipation of a massive death toll.