The Rebound Five is a collective of five people from both sides of the state line of different ages, races, occupations and concerns surrounding COVID-19. This is our effort to capture their unique experiences in the midst of the pandemic and navigate the challenges and triumphs they each face. We hope through their stories, you will find a piece of your own and a reminder that we are truly in this to rebound together. -Dia Wall
The Rebound Five has a lot to celebrate in the five months since 41 Action News introduced them.
Asiyah Lites-Rasheed, a small business owner, celebrated one year of business this fall.
"It was a blessing. I mean, I teared a little," Lites-Rasheed said.
Like most restaurants, Brown Sugar Chicken & Donuts was limited to carry-out only in the spring, started opening for socially distanced dine-in this summer and now, they're preparing for another potential shutdown.
"It's going to impact us, very much so, but to really get over [the COVID-19 pandemic]... completely get over it and not going back and forth, we have to have this shutdown,” Lites-Rasheed said.
Despite the challenges, she said the community has made the past year worthwhile.
"There were times where it was like, is it worth it? But, with the support of the community honestly, that is really the only way we are here is our community and Kansas City, I have to thank you guys,” Lites-Rasheed said. “I can't thank you enough in words for coming and supporting us."
Dr. Toni S. Zink, chief medical officer for the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, is still hard at work on the frontlines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"It's been exhausting. Everyone is tired,” she said. “There's been a lot of loss. There's been a lot of heartache and we're going to have to mourn that.”
Professionally, Zink said she is looking forward to the vaccine despite the fact that there is “a lot of fear” surrounding it.
“There's a lot of myths. We're waiting for more information. I think educating ourselves is going to be the biggest thing,” Zink said.
Personally, there have been challenges too.
"Just trying to have that support system that you need around you and your children. I really do have empathy for everyone who's going through this because we're going through it together,” Zink said. “I want people to remember that this is not going to last forever. It's not. It's a season that we're going through."
The Olathe School District is gearing up for students to return next semester, and Erik Erazo can't wait.
"You know, we're making it through. I think that I've got to give mad props to all the people at the ed center that constantly have to adapt," Erazo, coordinator of diversity and engagement for the Olathe School District, said.
During the pandemic, Erazo has been working on a project called, "The Spot."
"Basically a free community center in partnership with the Olathe School District, Johnson County Mental Health, Department of Corrections and the Olathe Library,” he said. “We're working closely with the Olathe Police Department. We're going to be working with the fire department to actually have mentors that are ongoing and will be there working with the kids."
As an educator, he said he wants everyone to “have that grace for everybody and understand these are crazy times and we have to do what we have to do."
Our COVID-10 survivors, high school sweethearts, Jason and Katy Green, are recovering well.
"I'm fully back at work and don't appear to have any residual effects so my lungs are checking out good. My heart is checking out good," Jason said. "We're definitely hopeful and we continue to get good news, but to say that we've had a sigh of relief in relation to COVID, I wouldn't say is accurate. We still worry about it."
Jason, EMS chief for the Overland Park Fire Department, said it's difficult seeing first responders in the metro lost to COVID.
"Clearly, the threat is real,” he said. “Clearly, we need to take actions to mitigate that threat. We've done that. We continue to do that, but it's definitely something we view as... can be a threat to our organization. Not just the health of our people, but also, potentially a threat to the service we provide."
Katy said she understands the COVID fatigue in the community because people are missing their “old lives.”
“We're missing things that we kind of took for granted before, and I cannot wait until the day that the vaccines are out and we all take it and this is a thing of the past, so we can just go back to living our lives the way we used to,” she said, “because I think we're all fighting for that."
Our retiree, mother and grandmother, Shirley Mueller, is still smiling with her family.
"The Christmas season is my favorite time of year,” Mueller said. “We do the safe thing with the masks and social distancing. I'm still living my life, but I do it carefully."
Mueller said she wants to keep encouraging older people in the community to be the one to reach out.
"We do a morning text,” Mueller said. “I do it with my grandchildren and my children, and it's special. We communicate that way."
Even after a tough year, Mueller is leaning on her faith.
"We are going to get through this,” she said. “God is faithful. He's faithful in His love and nothing can separate me from that love, not even COVID.”
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The Rebound Kansas City is our effort is to help metro residents play a role in moving our community forward. We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas to via email to rebound@kshb.com and we welcome you to join in the conversation on the Rebound KC Facebook Group.
Whether you're Getting Back to Work after a layoff, need help Making Ends Meet during these trying times or need tips on Managing the Pressure we're all feeling, The Rebound has resources to find help. We'll also make sure local leaders are Doing What's Right to get Kansas City back track after a three-month shutdown.
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