Moderator Spotlight: Kit

Body Politic’s support group is run by a dedicated team of volunteer administrators and moderators, most of whom are patients in the group as well as providing administrative support.

What is your name and where are you located?

My name is Kit and I live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. 

What do you do/did you do for work?

I’ve been unemployed since June 2020. Prior to Covid-19, I worked primarily as a biologist on projects related to bird monitoring. I’ve also worked as a teacher and in between field projects I would substitute teach on the Wind River reservation.

 How long have you been a member of the Body Politic’s Covid Support Group?

I developed symptoms April 4th, tested PCR neg in May, was clinically assessed by a cardiologist in September and told I was likely experiencing autonomic nervous system dysfunction and post viral syndrome due to likely Covid-19 infection. I joined this group in October because it felt so isolating living with this trajectory in a small town. I met one other person in town who echoed a similar progression and it meant so much, like I was seen. I wanted to connect with others.

 Why did you want to be a moderator for this group?

I derived so much generative support from this group, as well as truly helpful suggestions for navigating the waves of symptoms that I felt I wanted to give back to it. I hope to provide the same level of safety, care, and resource for others going through this for wherever they are at. I guess, ultimately, to be in service to others while also in solidarity with them.

 What is your slack handle/where can patients reach you in the group?

Kit she/her, moderator.

 What is your favorite channel in this group?

I have been and am a lurker in many of the groups and while experiencing a random symptom I’ve been like, this feels like such a strange sensation I can’t imagine if it’s related or not, I’ll then type into the search bar and generally find someone else has experienced it and sometimes has really helpful suggestions for moving through that symptom, or alleviating it. Or I just need to dip my toes into the stream of people who understand and have regard. More often now that I’ve found my waves of symptoms, intensity and duration to have subsided or improved I find myself reading vaccines, victories, random humor and positivity, and rehabilitation. 

What is your biggest hope for Long COVID advocacy/community efforts this year?

I want post viral illness and chronic illness communities to be centered (not marginalized), researched (not pathologized or stigmatized), and I want these efforts to be patient and community led.