Independent on Saturday

Covid tears long-hauler’s life apart

KAITLIN Denis is a 30-year-old former Division I soccer player who is on disability after being diagnosed with coronavirus 11 months ago.

She tells her story to Eli Saslow.

“I caught this virus before anyone had even died in Illinois. That was like a century ago, right?

“Now we’re talking about year 2, vaccines, new variants, but for me it’s still exactly the same. I’m always in this bed. I’m always in this room. I’ve been sick for the last 330 days. I force myself to keep track because otherwise time doesn’t move. I feel like I’m in jail and putting tally marks on the wall.

“I used to go to sleep thinking: tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll start to feel better. I don’t really do that as much anymore. I’m trying to come to

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