GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – Health leaders across central Texas are issuing a serious warning as we near Labor Day weekend.
With the delta variant becoming widespread and school returning to face-to-face learning, this Labor Day could be dangerous for people – especially the unvaccinated.
COVID-19 booster shots could be thrown back as that is affecting Austin-Travis County
Terian Szymczak and her friends on the trip. (Courtesy Terian Szymczak)
Terian Szymczak knows how important this warning is. What began as a short vacation with friends in early August turned into a weekend, says Szymczak, that she changed her life forever.
“I wasn’t feeling well – I thought I had a sinus infection,” said Szymczak.
She is a well known fitness professional in Williamson County. She trains six days a week and teaches several fitness classes and has been exposed to the virus five times in the past 18 months, but tested positive for COVID-19 after that trip.
Her three friends, who accompanied her on the seven-hour drive home, did too. The only difference was that they were vaccinated and Szymczak was not.
“These three girls were sick for a few days and returned to their normal lives and back to the gym. I went to the hospital and I’m still recovering, ”explained Szymczak.
She was diagnosed in early August and her symptoms got worse and worse over eight days, which ended up in the hospital. Getting oxygen and shots a day while her blood was starting to clot was her new normal.
“There was a moment in the hospital when I looked out the window and thought, ‘I don’t know if I can get out of here,'” said Szymczak.
Eventually she did, but her journey is far from over. It’s been more than 30 days and she can’t exercise and is not back at work.
Terian Szymczak leads a fitness course. (Courtesy Terian Szymczak)
“That was pretty earth-shattering and scary for me,” said Szymczak. “The emotional piece – it’ll take me a while to unwrap this.”
Austin-Travis County’s health leaders became concerned about the holiday weekend after 36 people died of COVID-19 this week
She didn’t think she needed the vaccine because she was healthy and had no underlying illnesses. She has changed her mind and that enlivens her message for this holiday weekend.
“I sure don’t want to do it again, either emotionally or physically. I don’t know if I can take it, so I decided to get vaccinated, ”said Szymczak.
Szymczak says her doctors said that helped her recovery that she was already eating healthily, taking care of herself, and exercising. She continues to encourage others to do the same.
