Uncertain and Ongoing: A parent’s story of Long COVID

COVID-19, , , ,

Leer en español

Adolescence is already an intense time for parenting, but what happens when you add a life altering condition to the mix? In this comic strip, cartoonist Summer Pierre shares her family’s many challenges navigating health and managing everyday life following her daughter’s onset of Long COVID at age 12.

Cover of a comic with two parents and a teenage child and their two cats. Title reads: Uncertain and Ongoing: A Parent's Story of Long COVID by Summer Pierre
A comic strip panel describing how in January 2022, the narrator's 12-year-old daughter Poppy got COVID-19 and never fully recovered. Illustration of a child in bed with text bubbles of her symptoms: dizziness, nausea, chronic fatigue, anxiety/depression, and brain fog. Her parents look on with worried expressions.
The narrator explains that before Poppy got Long COVID, she didn't understand how much we think of illness through a certain story arc. An illustration depicts stages of illness through a sequence of emoji faces, from healthy, not feeling good, sick, sick but getting treatment, feeling better, to healthy again.
A diagram using a series of emoji faces showing how Long COVID is unpredictable and ongoing. Arrows point in multiple directions between the emoji faces showing different illness stages, including "okay", "not okay", "getting better", "wait-not ok", "okay-ish", "getting better?" and a frustrated "I don't know??"
Poppy's Long COVID doctor is shown providing the standard line of treatment that depends on a mind-over-matter system for managing symptoms. The doctor says, "So when you feel bad, I want you to push through anyway and resume normal activity. It will help your body 'remember' it is not sick anymore." Poppy replies, "Okay..." but looks tired.
Poppy is shown in tears after 4 years of pushing through Long COVID. She has developed PTSD and flare ups of her symptoms became more frequent. Both Poppy and her mother, Summer, are shown panicking as Poppy pleads not to go to school because she feels so bad and the teachers don't believe that she's sick. Summer explains that they recently started home schooling to help regulate Poppy's nervous system.
Poppy's father, who has a full-time job, and mother, a freelancer, are shown frowning and sweating as they sort through medical bills, educational expenses, unexpected expenses, and a paper marked "no relief in sight." Summer explains that the burden of care falls to them to understand Poppy's symptoms, develop treatment plans, and manage her social and educational needs. Summer, who gets up at 4 am, says, "I know I need to bring in more money," as her father, who gets up at 5 am, asks "But how? When?"
In the narration, Summer wonders about her own needs. She says they have wonderful friends but the dissonance between their realities can bring enormous amounts of grief. She is shown in conversation with a friend who is talking about taking his kid to visit colleges, while her heart breaks as she thinks, "My id can't get out of bed!"
Summer narrates that talking to other parents who also deal with Long COVID would be a lifeline, but there has been a shocking lack of person-to-person support. She is shown in frustration looking at phone as she says, "Another Facebook group?? I don't need another message board! I need people!"
Summer explains that they don't know the prognosis for Summer's recovery. Long COVID is still relatively new and being understood. Some kids get better. Poppy hasn't yet. Summer, smiling, invites Poppy to go for a walk. Poppy smiles, holding a cat, and says, "Okay mom."
Summer concludes that until Poppy is better, they just keep going, knowing we are just like any other parents who hope their child will find their way in an unpredictable world. She is shown outdoors with her arm around Poppy, who says, "Oh, it's so nice out!" as she smiles. Summer smiles back and replies, "Yeah! It feels good!"

About Long COVID

Long COVID is a chronic condition that can affect anyone who has previously had COVID-19. There are many different kinds of symptoms, including extreme fatigue, brain fog, cough and chest pains, joint pains, irregular heartbeat, and depression–symptoms are different from person to person. Symptoms can last for months or longer, and they can greatly impact your daily life.

Long COVID can develop in anyone who gets a COVID-19 infection, even if they are young or were previously healthy. It’s possible to get Long COVID if you’ve had only mild illnesses from a COVID-19 infection previously.

Preventing long COVID

Anything you can do to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 in the first place, and decrease the risk of severe disease, will also reduce the risk of long COVID. So that means:

  • Keeping up with COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • Using all the protective measures, especially in crowded situations, like wearing well-fitting masks and making sure there is good air flow in rooms.
  • Even if you had previous infection and never got long COVID, it is important to take precautions because long COVID can still occur during re-infection.
  • Testing early and if you are eligible, getting treatment if you get infected with COVID-19.

Long COVID Resources

If you think you might have long COVID:

Information about Long COVID

Washington State Department of Health has a Long COVID resource page: doh.ww.gov/long-covid

Other long COVID stories 

This comics series features real people and providers sharing their experiences with the long-lasting symptoms and conditions that can follow an infection with COVID-19. Thank you to Summer Pierre and her family for sharing their story. Other stories in the series:

Coming to Terms with Long COVID: Deepa’s Story – PUBLIC HEALTH INSIDER

They Don’t See the Crash: Jesse’s Long COVID Story – PUBLIC HEALTH INSIDER

“Just because you can’t see symptoms…”: A story from a Long COVID Clinic – PUBLIC HEALTH INSIDER

Originally posted on June 24, 2026.

Want more insights from Public Health – Seattle & King County? Subscribe to the Public Health Insider from the link at the bottom of the page (mobile) or on the upper right corner of this post (desktop).