Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Shortcomings Of Support: A 2020 Meta-Reflection, Emily Abellon

Survive & Thrive: A Journal for Medical Humanities and Narrative as Medicine

This reflective essay explores the shortcoming of social support experienced in 2020, through the navigation of the pandemic, becoming a mother, and through progressing in a doctoral program. Through this meta-reflection, social support is discussed, specifically in regard to new motherhood, the challenges of enacting it during a pandemic, and how the practice of self-compassion needs to be normalized and can provide aid in times when support is lacking. The argument is made for further research and education on social support to be done to better prepare for challenges and obstacles that people of all backgrounds, from all industries and …

Sewing Self-Efficacy: Images Of Women’S Mask-Making In Appalachia During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Melanie B. Richards Phd, Mildred F. Perreault Phd

Survive & Thrive: A Journal for Medical Humanities and Narrative as Medicine

“I could get out my sewing machine and do something to make a difference.”- Gwen

In the early days of March 2020, news regarding COVID-19 spread in hushed tones throughout medical offices and church hallways in small cities and towns in the Appalachian Region of the United States. Although case numbers were quickly rising in major U.S. metropolitan areas, the virus was just becoming a known risk in Appalachia. During this time, Appalachian women gathered information about prevention efforts, and quickly acted using what resources they could access to provide homemade masks for themselves, their families, and their communities. …