Navajo woman who survived COVID-19 finds joy in simple steps

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — An ambulance whisked Carol Todecheene from her house in late March as some of her 13 rescue dogs barked and neighbors stood in their yards wondering what was wrong.

Some thought she had died as the number of coronavirus cases rapidly rose on the vast Navajo Nation, which at one point had the highest infection rate in the U.S.

Todecheene received so many calls and messages that her family let people know on social media that she had the virus. After weeks in the hospital, followed by rehabilitation, she's among the COVID-19 survivors.

Recovery, though, doesn't mean she's OK.

It came with survivor's guilt, trouble accessing health care and fear she wouldn't regain her memory or her job overseeing transportation at the local school district, where limited in-person classes will begin this week.

Her own social media posts provide a glimpse of her journey.

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March 21: “Gots to finish cleaning & sanitizing tomorrow. Remember...I'm not allowing anyone to my house. G'nite everyone #ShelterInPlace #FlattentheCurve"

By then, Todecheene had a stuffy nose, body aches and scratchy throat. One night, she was vomiting and coughing violently.

She tried to get tested for the coronavirus at a health center in the Navajo Nation town of Kayenta but was turned away twice because she didn't have a fever or respiratory problems. Her daughter Shannon insisted she go off the reservation to get checked.

It meant an hourslong trip, with Todecheene riding in the backseat, and mother and daughter wearing masks.

Todecheene thought about how they hadn't yet marked the start of the spring season with a blessing to Mother Earth for prosperity, health, protection and survival.

Before she received her test results, she was in the emergency room. She lost 85% of her...