For some time, health researchers have asserted that being pregnant and Latina make for an extremely at-risk combination when it comes to COVID-19. Aurora Chacon Esparza is just one of many women in the United States proving this to be true.
After being diagnosed with Coronavirus back in June, Aurora struggled with the symptoms of the virus while pregnant with her third child. Her husband Juan Duran said that at the time of her diagnosis she had been coughing non-stop and struggled with breathing. On June 19, medical experts put her on a ventilator.
Aurora delivered her baby via emergency C-section while still on a ventilator.
If only you cared about the American people. A Minnesota woman, Aurora Chacon Esparza, 35, is going to die because the hospital does not have a life support machine to save her. Her baby was born 10 weeks early. If she dies, it's on you. @davidpakmanshow@RingOfFireMediapic.twitter.com/rcYTMo7N44
— Karen Griffin Alonso (@KarenAnnAlonso) July 12, 2020
According to a GoFundMe page set up by her family, she passed away this past Sunday. She died in the hospital.
“Aurora was 7 months pregnant, the first week of June she began to have symptoms and went to take the COVID-19 test, she came out negative but the symptoms continued. Aurora called her primary doctor and was told to stay home, that sometimes the tests are not accurate,” the page explained. “The days passed and she began to feel more ill, on Sunday, June 14th she could not take it anymore and went to the hospital where she was admitted immediately.”
It didn’t take long before Aurora’s symptoms worsened. On June 19th she was sedated and put on an incubator. “On Tuesday, June 23rd, her oxygen became very low and a c-section was required to save both of their lives. She delivered the baby while she was on the ventilator, fortunately, the c-section had no complications,” says the GoFundMe page. “My daughter was born at 30 weeks gestation but luckily she is doing very well. Aurora began to improve very slowly. However, on July 7th things took a turn to the worst. At this time the ventilator is giving her oxygen at 100%. They have given her some treatments but the doctor says that apart from that- they can’t do anything else. Since Aurora has been on the ventilator for more than seven days, the ECMO machine would do more damage than help, according to the medical providers.”
Speaking about his wife, Duran called Aurora “one of the strongest persons I’ve ever known.”
Duran described his wife as a 35-year-old “healthy woman with no pre-existing conditions.” “We never thought this could happen to our family.” Duran said of his wife in an interview with FOX6 Now. He went on to share that when Aurora’s doctor called him to say that she needed to have an emergency C-section to save her and their baby’s life he was optimistic. “I was thinking ‘okay she’s going to get through this, a few days at the hospital.’ But when I received that phone call it just hit me,” Duran said.
Aurora’s daughter, named Andrea, was delivered a ten-weeks premature. Fortunately, she is a healthy baby.
Covid-19 is changing the all-American college experience. There is no more late-night munchie runs at 3 a.m., house party hopping, or late-night cramming with friends in the library. The spirit has completely changed, but all for the greater good of keeping others healthy and safe.
Still, that doesn’t discredit the fact that we are losing the value of our education by it moving online. We’re no longer able to use the campus as a resource to help fuel ourselves academically or socially. We long for the day we are able to build a sense of community again.
Here’s how Covid has changed the college experience and what you can do to make it better.
The Move to Online
Credit: @gph/ Giphy
Being a college senior myself, remote learning has taken a huge toll on me. My days are lengthened with logging on to Zoom for everything, and yes- even my pair of blue-light glasses can’t keep me focused.
I find myself eagerly waiting for my professor to say “That’s it for today everyone,” and sometimes can only hang in there for half of the time. I’m constantly left feeling anxious and frustrated.
I was sure that universities would begin to understand how different students cope with a very tricky, unstable, and scary situation at hand. However, I’ve experienced the opposite. An overwhelming influx of papers, online assignments, and weekly quizzes quickly presented themselves. Not to mention more group projects. Weekends soon became “working-weekends” and with assignments piling up I truly felt like I was drowning.
It wasn’t long until I had to think for myself. How am I going to cope with the now? I needed to figure out the best plan I could to navigate something out of mine and everyone else’s control. If you too are struggling during this time whether it be financially, academically, emotionally, etc, please know you are not alone. Below are some resources that might help each day go by just a little better than the last, and hopefully give you peace of mind.
The last thing that we want to do is pay full price for online learning, especially during a pandemic. So check with your college or university about COVID Emergency Assistance/Relief Funds.This has greatly helped students access resources such as food, housing, course materials, technology, and affordable health care. In some cases, they even pay you to be at home. Additionally, FAFSA is allowing students to get even more aid granted despite if they were already given their semester disbursement- so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Trust me, we all could use a little help in this area. Luckily, Tuition Funding Sources’s (TFS) database connects students to monthly scholarships based on needs, wants, and qualifications. They have highlighted “scholarships of the day” as well as career aptitude tests that can help your search become even more personal.
Businesses are also partnering up right now to help students around the world get the support they need to further their education.The McDonald’s® HACER ® National Scholarship assists Latino students to be front and center and attain the education they deserve. In 2019, more than $500,000 was granted to 30 students in order to help finance tuition costs. And better yet, The 2020-2021 application period just opened October 5th.
This app is a lifesaver. From brief wellbeing exercises to longer guided meditation, Headspace is offering free downloadable tracks that can help you ease your mind at home or on-the-go anywhere and anytime. Tune in when you need a break or to re-center yourself.
Sometimes hearing someone speak and having an honest conversation about a certain topic is really fun to engage with. It provides us another perspective other than their are own, and it’s interesting to get a glimpse at the way other people live. Taking 30 minutes out of your day to listen to an episode can help ease some stress, reminding you that others are by your side who, too, have felt the same chaos.
For a great selection of podcasts, search Spotify or Apple Podcasts to start the search on some good series.
Be Patient with Yourself
Credit: @nbc/ Giphy
Remember, this pandemic is not forever although it might feel like it right now. Do not feel like you are responsible for the frustration you are undergoing. Take some time to care for yourself and take a step back from the craziness of the world to remind yourself that things will get better.
Talk to a friend, counselor, or therapist if you find yourself in a crisis more than you can bear. Crisis Text Line offers free, 24/7 service to anyone who needs some support and wants to speak with someone. What’s nice is you have the option to either call or text, depending on what’s most comfortable and effective for you.
Get-togethers are looking a lot different right now, but you can still plan an event that will keep all of your friends together. Zoom can be a wonderful platform not only for the classroom, but to catch up with everyone. Plan a “Whine Night” where you talk about all things life or vibe to shared music. Your university should give you an unlimited personal meeting room link so you don’t have to pay a dime for the time.
Many universities are offering virtual social hours so students can connect to each other and get more of a sense of community as we navigate through the days. Check online on your school’s website to see what types of activities they are offering students at this time, and what events might fit your personal or career interests. You never know who you might meet!
Having a go-to hobby during this time can give you something to look forward to and be an escape from all the ongoing chaos. Look into things like surfing, socially distanced yoga classes, cooking, or hiking to get you feeling joyful and inspired. Try one thing out and see if you like it, and if not who says you can’t just move to the next thing? You’ll be surprised at what you discover will be your next “thing.”
The pandemic has definitely made college life and life, in general, a whole lot harder. Know that it is completely normal to feel mad, sad, scared, or anxious about what’s to come. With these tips, my only wish is that they help you cope just a bit more as they have for me. Together we will get through this, slowly but surely.
Americans are closely watching the confirmation hearing of Amy Coney Barrett. The judge has made it clear that she is not in favor of marriage equality, access to abortion, and the right to affordable and life-saving healthcare. California’s attorney general has pledged not to prosecute women for abortions if Roe V. Wade is overturned.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is standing with women and their right to choose.
Today I formally pledge not to prosecute women who obtain abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
AG Becerra was a congressman representing California wen President Donald Trump won the 2016 election. Former California Gov. Jerry Brown called on AG Becerra to leave Congress and come back to California as the attorney general. The move was a clear response to President Trump’s victory and a show that California was gearing up for years of legal battles against the administration.
Politicians and activists are sounding the alarm of Barrett’s alleged willingness to overturn Roe V. Wade.
Hi, only Senator to work at Planned Parenthood here.
Barrett's views on Roe v. Wade are clear. So I'm making my views on her nomination clear: I'm voting no.
The Supreme Court secured the future for women when they made the decision on Roe V. Wade. Suddenly, women have safe access to abortions. It closed a dark chapter in American history when women died from botched back alley abortions. Since the decision was made, the GOP has fought for years on local, state, and national levels to reverse the decision and strip women of their healthcare rights.
Concerned citizens are begging for government officials to do something to protect abortion rights.
Why can't anyone file a lawsuit to stop the GOP from ramming SCOTUS pick through? Who cares if it's unfounded!! DO SOMETHING to stop it from happening before the election. DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @SpeakerPelosi@SenSchumer@TomPerez
If Roe V. Wade is overturned, the decisions to allow abortions will be left up to the states. This would negatively impact millions of women who are already struggling to access necessary healthcare in GOP-led states. States like Louisiana and Texas have made it increasingly difficult for women to access abortions in the state.
Americans do support Roe V. Wade.
Thank you, Attorney General Becerra. 💪🏽🇺🇸
— Patricia #BlackLivesMatter Prewitt (@thePumamama) October 14, 2020
Sixty-six percent of American adults do not support overturning Roe V. Wade. The decision has had a very real and important impact on the lives of women in the U.S. After decades of dangerous and fatal botched abortions in the U.S., the Supreme Court decision gave women a chance to get safe abortions. The decision afforded women a chance to have control of their futures.
People are grateful to see AG Becerra’s statement on Roe V. Wade.
Thank you sir, for your protection of woman and the right to choose for themselves.
— VoteForYourLife 🇺🇸🌊☮️❤️☀️✝️🏈🍷🎶👨👩👧👦😷 (@look4goodinppl) October 14, 2020
Abortion is something more and more Latinos have come around too, according to some studies. According to the Latina Institute, a majority of Latinos are in favor of women having the right to choose what is best for them.
What are your thoughts about Roe V. Wade? Let us know.
