Introduction

My name is Devin. I’m a COVID Long Hauler, despite my best efforts. Since March 14, 2020 I’ve been sick riding the “Corona Coaster”, as one of my fellow Long Hauler friends calls it. The term doesn’t quite do it justice. Two years prior to contracting COVID, I had suffered from Chronic Lyme Disease for about 11 years. Those who suffer from Chronic Lyme also call that experience a roller coaster, but I’d take 11 years of Lyme Disease over the 1st year of Long Haul COVID. There’s no doubt that 1st year was the most challenging of my life … and I’m still unwell. I lost my job, been mostly housebound for years (except really for medical appointments), spent an obscene amount of money trying to get better, and have been stuck with low quality of life. If my violin strings were all in working order, I’d get my fiddle out and play it for myself.

Pre-COVID life saw me as the manager of a wellness center with an integrative medical practice operating inside of it that had a focus on the chronically ill, for 4 years. The opportunity for that position came about because of my Lyme Disease struggles. My Long Haul COVID issues prompted me to think, how can I turn this into a positive, and continue doing what I came to love, helping people in need of help? Thus, I formed Covid Castaways and created this website in order to do just that.

My intent is to support those struggling to find help, whether it’s aiding in finding them practitioners, or disseminating important information, or raising money for those who need it. Covid Castaways wants to do all it can. We’ve also started an RV trip focused on creating a docuseries revolving around Long COVID & pandemic related problems. More is to come, with eyes on starting a nonprofit.