High-risk family maneuvers COVID-19 surge
Jan 10, 2022, 5:00 PM | Updated: Jun 7, 2022, 5:14 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Throughout the pandemic, families with high-risk members have taken extra precautions to guard against catching COVID-19. That’s critical for protecting individuals with serious health issues and children too young to be vaccinated.
KSL’s Jed Boal spoke Monday with a Utah mother who is trying to protect her kids through another surge.
Heidi Costello is a working mom with two young kids and a husband studying at Weber State University. They’ve been on guard since the beginning of the pandemic, and they’re back at that level again with the omicron variant.
“We’ve been on very high alert the whole time,” Heidi Costello said.
When COVID-19 emerged in Utah nearly two years ago, Costello was concerned about the health of her high-risk kids. But, she had no idea she would have to be so vigilant for so long.
“I didn’t even fathom that it would affect us so much,” she said.
Like many people, she thought the pandemic would be over soon. As reality sank in and the pandemic dragged on, she knew they would have to be extremely cautious for a long time.
“Stay home, don’t go anywhere,” Costello said.
When the first COVID cases surfaced in 2020, 2-year-old Sammy was already hospitalized with RSV, and 3-year-old Joseph was hospitalized with another virus.
Joseph has asthma.
“When he gets sick, it flares up big time,” his mother said.
Sammy has a rare, genetic condition called Alagille Syndrome, which creates liver and heart problems.
“His heart problems really, really make us worry about him,” she said.
Right now, they’re too young to be vaccinated.
“That’s why we’ve tried to keep them as isolated as possible.“
Last June, when case counts dropped off, Heidi went back to work on campus at Weber State. In September, her kids started all-day preschool there. But, with the arrival of omicron, Heidi is back at home with her kids, and in that bunker mentality again.
“I just didn’t feel good about them going back. We’re going to at least keep them out for the next two weeks as we see what happens as classes start back up again on campus.” Costello said.
As the isolation continues for her kids, she grows more concerned about their emotional health.
“Our kids need the socialization,” she said. “They are both autistic, and school has super super helpful for them.”
She feels good about the precautions the university has taken and the information they put out. But, the omicron variant is a real concern.
