(HealthyResearch.com) – We all need someone to look up to, someone we can emulate and seek out for inspiration and direction. Everyone needs a hero. With COVID-19 fears driving much of the country, some of us might find comfort in knowing how many celebrities have fought and overcome the virus. Here are a few of their stories.
1. Pink
The pop singer announced her infection in April when her 3-year-old son also fell ill. According to an Insider report, Pink described the experience as “terrifying.” Her recovery inspired her to donate a total of $1 million to Temple University Hospital Fund in Philadelphia and the Mayor’s COVID-19 Fund in Los Angeles.
2. Jim Parsons
The L.A. Times recently released an article on the television star’s COVID-19 recovery. Parsons, who rose to stardom after playing the quirky Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, suffered symptoms alongside his husband, Todd Spiewak, early in the pandemic. The actor recounted his temporary loss of smell and taste as “brutal.” Parsons participated in the virtual Emmy Awards in September, which took place on Zoom; he called the socially distanced event “bizarre.”
3. Tony Shalhoub
It’s ironically fitting the man whose claim to fame as the title character in Monk, a germaphobe so fearful that he could barely function, should recover. CNN reports that the actor, who’s appeared in numerous films and television shows, fell ill with his wife, Brooke Adams. Shalhoub was so grateful for his recovery after “a pretty rough few weeks,” he teamed up with Seth MacFarland and a handful of other actors to put together a special show to raise COVID-19 awareness and gather funds for essential workers:
4. Jillian Michaels
Even people who are fit and super-healthy are at risk of catching the coronavirus, although according to the CDC, they may have an advantage over people who aren’t quite as healthy. According to ET, fitness guru Jillian Michaels, known for her part in The Biggest Loser, caught the virus despite strict social distancing. It just took one slip — inviting over a trusted friend who appeared well — for COVID-19 to enter her life. Michaels said she “would have gone to the gym if it was open” before learning she was sick, potentially infecting countless other people. Michaels, 46, recovered quickly and without incident.
5. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
The popular actor best known for his role as the title character in The Scorpion King, along with his wife and two daughters, contracted the virus in August. He told BBC News that his daughters merely suffered sore throats for a couple of days. Johnson and his wife had more severe symptoms, however. They caught the virus from people within their close social bubble, but they’re unsure how those contacts had become infected.
6. Alyssa Milano
Starting her career as a child star in the ’80s sitcom Who’s the Boss? and later rejuvenating her celebrity when she starred in the popular drama Charmed, this well-known actress understands perseverance. Milano said that during the worst of her infection, she “felt like [she] was dying.” The lasting effects she’s experienced since recovering in March have left her just as rattled. CNN reports that Milano, who lost 9 pounds during her bout with COVID-19, has suffered long-lasting hair loss as a result of her infection.
7. Tom Hanks
Time recently published an article on the beloved television and film star, detailing what he and his wife, Rita Wilson, went through with the coronavirus. According to Hanks, he and his wife, who both tested positive, experienced the virus very differently. While he suffered from severe fatigue, body aches and a foggy head, his wife lost her sense of smell and had extreme nausea. Both had fevers, but Wilson’s was higher. Hanks, 63, was in a higher risk group due to his age and the fact that he has diabetes, but he and his wife both recovered without incident.
8. Prince Charles
The Prince of Wales, at 71, is even bigger proof that age is just one risk factor for serious complications, with many seniors pulling through without any problems. According to BBC News, Prince Charles only experienced mild symptoms and recovered fully in late March.
9. President Trump
The President of the United States tested positive for COVID-19 on October 5, but he was released after just a short hospital stay. BBC News has released some of the most recent info on Trump’s recovery, sharing that he returned to work on October 7 and is reportedly “feeling great!” After months of lax attitudes on mask use, however, several other White House officials have also fallen ill, as have a handful of Republican Senators. Vice President Pence and his opponent, Senator Kamala Harris, have both continued to test negative.
Dozens more celebrities have caught and beaten the coronavirus, offering us all a reminder to keep hope. Nature reports that COVID-19 has killed over 1 million people worldwide, so a healthy amount of caution is important. It’s also important not to live in fear. None of us can know how we’ll react to the virus until it hits, but we might each beat whatever odds are against us.
~Here’s to Your Health & Safety!
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