Live With No Regrets: Hawai‘i survivors share their stories

While we have all been impacted by COVID-19 in countless ways, relatively few Hawai‘i residents have experienced the virus first-hand. Only if we truly understand the physical threat will we be motivated to do everything we can to stop it. And one of the best ways to achieve that understanding is to learn from survivors and their loved ones.

This week the Hawai‘i Department of Health launched the second round of “Live With No Regrets” public service announcements (PSAs.) These new videos tell powerful stories of Hawai‘i residents personally impacted by COVID-19. These survivors all have personal COVID-19 journeys to share–and some have lost family members to the virus.

New PSAs are now airing on local television and posted on DOH’s social media. We have also posted four compelling 3- to 5-minute stories on: HawaiiCOVID19.com/survivors

The first round of “Live With No Regrets” PSAs launched last September to educate and promote COVID-19 safety measures such as wearing masks and physical distancing. This new campaign stresses the vital addition of vaccination to our arsenal against the virus.

“So now with COVID-19 variants on our shore, itʻs more important than ever to wear a mask,” says Wahiawā pediatrician Leo Pascua, MD in one of the PSAs. “And when it’s your turn, make sure you get vaccinated.”

Dr. Pascua told his own story as a COVID patient back in September and now he returns with an updated message. In his new PSA, Dr. Pascua passionately advocates the importance of getting vaccinated.  “We’ve put on the masks and we’ve socially distanced. And if we don’t do anything else this is how itʻs going to be then for years. Vaccine is the only active thing we have.”

Dr. Pascua is one of five survivors who muster the courage to share their intimate stories in hopes it will motivate the rest of us to do the right thing to protect ourselves, our families and island neighbors.

Amy is an essential worker who explains how COVID spread through her family and ultimately took her father. Wintel regrets the socializing that led to contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to his wife and four children. And Josh carries guilt about getting his family sick, as well as anxiety about potential future complications. “Even if you’re young and healthy it can be really difficult—not just physically but psychologically and emotionally,” Josh shares. “Knowing that you could’ve given it to someone else. Not knowing what could happen to you 3-6 months down the road. Is it going to cause any lasting problems? We still don’t know the answer to those questions.”

Sunny is an Oahu paramedic who shares her personal perspective from the front lines of COVID response and treatment. “Every day we come to work weʻre putting possibly our lives at risk, our families at risk,” Sunny explains. “The least the community could do is just take it seriously for us. That’s all we ask.”

Dr. Pascua believes this message is critical more than a year into the pandemic and four months since the vaccine became available. “I wanted to participate again because it is clear that although we have the vaccines, the human response and activity clearly indicates that we are taking things for granted–compared to the disease activity, which is going full bore 24/7.”

With more than a third of Hawaii’s adult population now fully vaccinated, we are well on our way to the goal of “herd immunity.” However, human beings in Hawai‘i and around the world continue to contract COVID-19 every day and new variants threaten to undercut the progress we’ve made.

By sharing these first-hand stories, the Hawai‘i Department of Health aims to bring us as close as possible to understanding the reality of COVID-19 without personally experiencing it.

These stories remind us all that we must continue to take this virus seriously.. take every precaution.. and get vaccinated! Take it from your Hawai‘i neighbors who have been there.