In the middle of March, Williston resident Todd Townsend was fighting off what he thought was a nasty cold. Like most builders, he continued going to work on his job site in Barre. A few of the other workers on site also had coughs. By March 22, exhaustion had set in, and less than a week later Todd was having difficulty breathing and felt like he had been hit by a truck. Todd’s doctor sent him to get tested for the coronavirus at the Champlain Valley Exposition testing site in Essex Junction. A few days later, he got the results back: Todd had tested positive for COVID-19.
Todd is unsure where he caught the virus, and the other workers on his building site all tested negative. His mild symptoms lasted for about a month and are still lingering. They include body aches, loss of taste, a low-grade fever, headaches and trouble breathing.
Todd has a wide network of friends through his work in local theatrical productions, both as a set designer and an actor. He shared his experience on Facebook to raise awareness that the virus is real and affecting Vermonters. He also asked people to be careful what they post online and to avoid spreading misinformation. Eva talked to Todd via Zoom about his battle with the virus.
Music: Bob Wagner, “Howl” & additional music
Recorded: 4/14/20
Resources: Learn how to make cloth gowns for the medical community with Tara Lynn of Sutton.
This episode of Stuck in Vermont was supported by
New England Federal Credit Union
This article appears in Apr 22-28, 2020.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
