Parenting in Pandemic Special #2: Immunocompromised with Jen Curran

Mother of All Shows

What does "immunocompromised" mean? And what does it mean in the context of a pandemic? This week we speak to comedian Jen Curran who is a new mom and currently going through chemo for blood cancer. She is smart, witty, and immunocompromised. Kimmy gets the low down from Jen on why handwashing and social distancing are saving lives and how she's found comfort in the global pandemic fears.

If you have any additional questions for Jen Curran reach out to her on twitter @jencurran or Instagram @jencurran.

Write to Kimmy at motherofallshows.com, [e-mail] or through social media @MOASpod, Facebook page Mother of All Shows.

Here are follow-up questions answered by Dr. Jennie Johnson, an infectious disease doctor, and our guest from Parenting in Pandemic #1.

Question 1:

I would love to know about cloth masks, whether they can work (for mere humans or healthcare workers), and if we should wear them when we go out.

Here are the new recommendations from the CDChttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html:

CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms ("asymptomatic") and that even those who eventually develop symptoms ("pre-symptomatic") can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

Also from NPR:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/03/826996154/coronavirus-faqs-is-a-homemade-mask-effective-and-whats-the-best-way-to-wear-one

An article and video from The Guardian on how to make homemade masks. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/06/how-to-make-no-sew-face-mask-coronavirus

Useful tips from the NY Times on what fabrics work best for homemade masks. https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-homemade-mask-material-DIY-face-mask-ppe.html

Question #2

I'd like to know more about possible treatments on the horizon, especially the Mt Sinai antibody tests. Is there any hope that those things will really help to slow this thing down anytime soon? Or at least slowdown/curb the death rate?

There are a number...

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