DISTRICT HEIGHTS, U.S.A~ Despite being ill, Charles Thomas did not have time to rest. He was about to start a new chapter that would change the financial future of his family and end the cycle of generational poverty. He was also about to get a management promotion and move to Florida. Thoughts concerning his health increased as his family’s prospects changed for the better.The 52-year-old was weak and recovering for weeks after a severe case of COVID-19. Melanese Marr-Thomas, his wife, was concerned that he was working too hard to get back into the routine. 6 feet tall and weighing 300 pounds, Charles was a huge man. Years passed as he battled to control his weight.
This fight was replaced later in life by high blood pressure and a variety of drugs. Black individuals are more likely than white people to have high blood pressure in a country that suffers from it, making them more likely than white people to pass away during COVID-19. It is a harsh fact. Additionally, it has occurred in hundreds of Black families who have lost mothers and fathers over the past three years, making it a unique tragedy among the many tragedies caused by the pandemic.
Families like the Thomases of District Heights, Maryland have been crushed by it. In part because they had previously dismissed his worries, doctors, hospitals, and needles caused Charles to have severe phobias. He believed that doctors were eager to attribute any illnesses on his weight alone but sluggish to pay attention to his symptoms or rule out other potential causes.
He was tired of being criticized, so he eventually gave up on obtaining medical attention for a very long period. Recently, Charles’ family had discovered a Black doctor who, for the first time in his life, had made him feel at ease and, most importantly, heard. “He knew he needed to take better care of himself, so we were trying to change his diet and be more active,” Melanese said. His blood pressure started to decrease. But COVID then stepped in. AP
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