Maryland Department of Health
CovidCONNECT
CovidCONNECTIONS
Across Maryland, those who have personal experience with COVID-19 — who have recovered, lost loved ones, or are still suffering from the virus — have important experiences to share with us all. We are gathering personal experiences of COVID-19 from every county in the state, highlighting the impact of this pandemic from the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland.
Please return often as we continue to add to our conversations with people who have suffered from the impacts of COVID-19.
Allegany County
Marsha Bell
“I lost my husband, I have been desperately sick, and I am isolated and alone because people have an irrational fear that I will infect them.” ~ Marsha Bell
Baltimore City
Sue Engelbert
“I started this year with a father, and now he’s gone. This is what we need to be talking about. People are fighting so hard — just to live.” ~Sue Engelbert
Prince George’s County
Allen Lights
“I was in so much pain, like every bone and part was in agony. I was sucking down oxygen for about four weeks— 6-10 liters a day.” ~Allen Lights
St. Mary’s County
Dawn Kelly
“I am so privileged that my insurance was able to cover home oxygen, because I used it all the time for the next two months.” ~ Dawn Kelly
Wicomico County
Krista Bozman
“I’m still waiting for someone to tell me why I am alive, and George is not. ” ~ Krista Bozman
Harford County
Adam Rothenberg
“I implore everyone to please wear a mask, wash your hands, and keep your social distance. Covid is very real, very contagious, and very deadly.”
Calvert County
Ken Smith
“Once I started coughing I couldn’t stop, sometimes for 40 or 45 minutes I would be going. It was exhausting.” ~ Ken Smith
Garrett County
Christina Cortez
“I have been told that I am faking it because I don’t want to work. People said my tests were false positives. How could I fake this?”