Sonia Cadena’s life took an unexpected turn in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vivacious mom and hairstylist living in Denver’s Ruby Hill neighborhood was among the state’s first recorded cases of the novel coronavirus. She is now one of the estimated 300,000 Coloradans who tested positive for the virus and had symptoms that lasted at least three months — what we now call long COVID.
Sonia’s journey with COVID began in January 2020 when the virus was yet to be formally diagnosed the United States. While traveling internationally, Sonia unwittingly became one of the initial cases recorded in Colorado.
"It was really bad I didn’t know what was happening, but it was the worst flu-like symptoms I had ever experienced" Sonia recalled. Rather than a quick recovery like many COVID patients experience, the illness reshaped her life in profound ways.
"I went to the emergency room three times and spiraled into medical debt," Sonia said. The financial strain added to an already grueling battle against the virus. "Breathing treatments, twice a week, were meant to help, but I found no relief. Instead, I accumulated around $18,000 in debt as insurance didn't cover these treatments."