With the coronavirus running rampant in societies across the world, it is imperative that we take drastic measures to contain and limit its spread. Of course, the virus may not be such a problem to the healthier groups in society; the youth, the middle-aged or those with no health problems. But for those in society like me, who suffer from some kind of condition which severely impacts their everyday lives, this virus is nothing... but an absolute nightmare.
I suffer from rheuamtoid arthritis in the juvenile idiopathic form; to break this down, I suffer from an incredibly rare form of the disease which only affects about 1 in 10,000 children. The cause is unknown, and my diagnosis was immensely painful, but the disease no longer affects me nearly as much as it did when I was first diagnosed. But whilst it doesn't affect me externally, my immune is as messed up as my room is now. Terribly. With this disease running riot in the UK, with no-one knowing how to deal with it, the government have resorted to measures to keep the 'most vulnerable' people, such as myself, at home for a minimum of 12 weeks. This is because, if we catch this disease: it's practically game over.
Whilst I appreciate the idea that staying at home is in my best interests, I am quite the extrovert, meaning I long to escape the walls of my house and saunter through the streets, back before this virus started. I miss going to school and my friends, I miss my tennis lessons and I most certainly miss the weekly excursions my family and I would embark upon every week-end. But I must abide by the rules, because we only live once; I don't want my life cut short.
And that, readers, is the reality of being 'vulnerable'.
By Duniya Jan, Oaks Park High School
