When the United States surpassed a half-million COVID deaths, I struggled to put that number into some sort of perspective.  Just how large is a number like 500,000?

It is larger than the population of Kansas City Missouri, and nearly as much as the city of Atlanta, Georgia.  If you have ever visited those two cities (I have) you can envision just how gigantic that death toll is.

But the impact of those deaths adds millions more for those left behind.  The family members, close friends and communities changed forever by these untimely coronavirus deaths are grieving the losses.

Reading of this gruesome milestone hit me particularly hard.  In late October I tested positive for COVID.  To this day, I do not not how I contracted the virus.  I was as careful as possible, but it happened to me anyway.

In early November, I began to go from feeling like I had been hit with a bad case of the flu to something much worse.  All the energy essentially had been sucked out of my body.  I could sense severe congestion in my upper chest.  The good news was I could still breath.

I realized that if the symptoms worsened and breathing became a problem, I would end up in the hospital.  I was very fortunate.  I improved and never needed hospitalization.

I count myself as one of the lucky few in my age range to suffer some fairly tough symptoms, but never needed to enter the hospital.  I thank God for every day as I rise from bed each morning.  I must assume I remain on this earth for a reason.

So, if you know a family struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one, do what you can to help.  Sometimes, little things can mean a lot.

But do not forget that number – 500,000.  It is large, very large.  We all must use that as a reason for following the masking and distancing advice health professionals are providing.  Take a vaccination when you are eligible.  Do everything you can do to be safe!