Highland Park Resident Describes Experience Living With COVID-19


What’s it like to be diagnosed with COVID-19, and, beyond that, what’s it like to live with the illness?

Terri Chaseley calls it “a really strange virus.”

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The Highland Park resident was diagnosed with COVID-19 nearly two weeks ago, on March 17. She said she is still experiencing nausea and fatigue, in addition to an odd sensation on her arms.

“Like they’re covered in Icy Hot,” she said. “That is a symptom I read other people have as well. Some people have described it as tingling in their arms.” 

Chaseley said she felt symptomatic days before heading to the emergency room on March 16, where a CT scan showed that she had double viral pneumonia. It wasn’t until then that she was transferred to a designated testing center and diagnosed with COVID-19.

  • (Courtesy of Terri Chaseley)

    (Courtesy of Terri Chaseley)

  • (Courtesy of Terri Chaseley)

    (Courtesy of Terri Chaseley)

“When I got the diagnosis, I was floored,” she said. “With the time I was experiencing symptoms in the beginning, there were no known cases in Illinois … and it wasn’t really on our radar. I assumed it was the flu.”

Since her diagnosis, Chaseley has been at home but separated from her three children and husband, who are also in quarantine.

Chaseley said she misses connecting with her family and friends, but her biggest frustration is seeing people neglect social distancing guidelines.

“I’m still hearing about teenagers going out with friends and families having play dates. It’s unacceptable and will cost lives,” she said. “If this can happy to a healthy 45 year old, it can happen to anyone.”


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