My Hospital Visit During Covid-19

I was born with a health condition called Situs Ambiguous, which means that all of my internal organs are on the opposite side of my body. However, my heart was still in the correct place. This has led me to undergo four open-heart surgeries where they have re-routed my heart. Due to the need for future surgeries on it, I visit a cardiologist at least once a year to monitor the regression of the valve they inserted in my heart. I know these cardiology appointments in and out due to the countless number I have had over my lifespan, but this year was very different because we were in the middle of a pandemic.

Most of the nation was beginning to end their strict lock down, but only a few places were being given permission to reopen. One of these was that the hospital was allowed to open up for critical appointments. I was glad when they informed me that I would be able to come in because I had some concerns such as random chest pains and the increase in loudness of my heart. For the appointment, I was only allowed to bring one person, which I brought my mom, and we both had to track our temperatures and symptoms for a week in advance. When we arrived at the hospital, we had to get our temperature taken and were asked a series of questions. Masks were obviously required to be wore at all times, so I was very glad that i did not have to complete an exercise test this year. I think that it was the fastest appointment I have ever had. They did want anyone sitting around waiting, so as soon as we got there, we were brought to a room. My echo-cardiogram was its normal time, but we had no wait to see my cardiologist after because there was little to no one else there. It was so weird to be a the hospital, and it be so empty. The hospital had not had any Covid-19 patients, and they had not been having an surgeries and appointments unless they were an emergency, so the hospital seemed just too quiet. I am super glad that I got my appointment in before coming to college though, and I am glad the hospitals are allowed to be open again.