As Dr. Gena Ross prepares to run for the open U.S. senate seat in Missouri, she is both excited and energetic, even as she copes with long-haul health problems almost a year and a half after she got COVID-19.
Ross believes it’s a personal choice what a person wants or does not want injected into their body, but she also encourages everyone to do their part to stay safe and keep others safe.
“I do understand why the media encourages people to get the vaccine and I also see why some people are hesitant because of the media, Ross said. “We don’t want another shut down, people want to go back to their lives pre-Covid. If the message would be consistent about the vaccine more people might be at ease. If you’re not going to get vaccinated wear a mask. If you are vaccinated you still may want to wear a mask because of the variant and because some people have no symptoms at all walking around spreading. People should take the best precautions for themselves and their family. I can’t tell people to get it, and I’m not. I know my situation so I’m doing what I think is best for my body and will continue to keep myself safe and respect others.”
She got COVID in March, 2020 and was hospitalized for about six days. She was hospitalized again in April 2020 for another four days at St. Luke’s. She was put on oxygen and given hydroxychloroquine and other medications, but her condition didn’t require a ventilator.
Dr. Gena Ross
She believes she contracted the virus on her 2020 US Congress campaign trail. “It was before the mask mandate and while someone was talking to me, their spit got in my eye,” Ross said. “Not intentionally. I noticed a few days after that my bottom eyelid was very big and puffy with a bump on it and red inside with a white bump.”
Ross would soon experience the full effects of the virus. “The virus itself was horrible,” Ross said. “My lungs, my breathing, the fevers, injections in my stomach daily to prevent blood clots in my lungs. My legs were weak. I couldn’t taste. The coughing took so much out of me. I had brain fog. But I never had a sore throat. There was a lot going on. Restricted lung disease and muscle tension dysphonia,” (difficulty in speaking due to a physical disorder of the mouth, tongue, throat, or vocal cords).
Long-haul issues after COVID include multi-organ problems that can affect heart, lung, kidney, skin and brain functions. After a year and a half, Ross is still affected by long-haul dysphonia. Her vocal cords are no longer what they were pre-COVID. She has muscle tension dysphonia and her muscles squeeze her vocal cords, causing her voice to come and go.
“I can’t sing like I used too, and my voice often goes silent or very raspy,” Ross said. “I have started going to vocal therapy. People often ask me to repeat myself or can’t hear me because my voice is so soft. I know my voice will get better and I will get stronger.”
As she plans her campaign, she will continue to take her voice breaks and do her vocal exercises to ensure her voice is ready to hit the campaign trail. Ross came in second in her run against Sam Graves for the Missouri 6th U.S. Congressional District seat.
“I wasn’t going to run again, but after the insurrection I felt compelled to try again,” Ross said. The only way I fail is by not trying. I’m willing to speak up and represent people first, if people are the first priority I believe everything else can fall in place so we can have peace and harmony. It shouldn’t be based off of party or zip codes. Grassroots campaigns are not easy. The people with all the money get all the endorsements it seems. But it won’t stop me from using my voice. I’m unbossed, unbought, and unbiased. Paving the way for change.”
Ross said she was motivated to run for the senate seat being vacated by Roy Blunt because of the Jan. 6 insurrection and the dysfunction and chaos of leadership.
“I love people and I’m willing to be the change I want to see,” Ross said. “I want to help people. There’s something for everyone. I want to build bridges and remove barriers. Some may laugh but I do believe in unlimited possibilities and miracles. Start spreading good news of hope, reformation, reconciliation, and democracy.”
At the center of her message while campaigning will be the issue of respect, and that while we don’t all have to agree on everything, we should still respect one another.
“Character counts,” Ross said. “Along with accountability, integrity, democracy, healthcare, voting reform to prevent confusion, education reform, economic recovery, and climate change. There are so many issues that I’m concerned about I can’t name them all now. But we definitely need change.”
She will continue to work hard to get her voice back. Because of her medical problems and allergies to many medications, she is relying on antibodies developed after COVID to keep her safe for the time being.
“I have natural immunity, therefore I don’t want to take a risk from the vaccine,” Ross said. “Especially after my daughter got one dose of the Pfizer vaccine and got very ill and went to the hospital twice down in Louisiana. She didn’t get the second. With my allergy history, and knowing what happened to her, I’m using my personal choice to do what’s best for me and my body. I will continue to wear my mask, use hand sanitizer, wash my hands and keep my distance in crowds of people.”
After going through COVID and the long-haul problems, Ross said the most important thing she has learned has been that she could have lost her life, but she believes God kept her here for a reason.
“Tomorrow is not promised,” Ross said. “I lost a lot of loved ones to this invisible demon with no respect for people. Love, laugh, live and forgive. Don’t hold grudges. Protect yourself and others. COVID is not going away.”