TMC PULSE

14 t m c n e w s . o r g Hamdan, who has a master's degree in public health and worked her way up from agency intern to epidemiologist over the last four years, speaks with a soothing and assuring voice. "Sometimes, we laugh with them. We cry with them. I would say we're here to serve, educate, investigate as well as comfort," she said. "I oftentimes have to find my strength to try to comfort the patients and at the same time I'm muffling my cries hoping they don't hear me because I don't want them to be more fearful because I know they're seeking guidance. It's just the human factor." Multiple tests mark recovery Clapp was tested for COVID-19 four times. The first was at the emergency center on March 23, which was confirmed on March 24. Once she started to feel better, she needed to take another COVID-19 test to see if she had kicked the virus. Neighbors didn't know about her diagnosis and she didn't want someone showing up in head-to-toe gear to reveal her predicament. Still, Clapp left her gate open and Garcia slipped onto the property along the side of the house for that second test—the first from HHD. Garcia, who is also a nurse, was clad in personal protective equipment (PPE). "I stepped out in the courtyard and she I felt such devotion and compassion. These ladies are a tremendous asset to the City of Houston Health Department. I remain so grateful for their care." Lingering effects During the illness, Clapp lost her sense of smell. "It is returning now. I think it's probably about 30 percent, but that's an interesting complication of this illness," she said, adding that she also lost a few pounds. "That's the only way I could ever lose it, I think," she laughed. "I essentially fasted for five or six days until they gave me some anti-nausea medication." Now, Clapp says she feels "great" as she reclaims her life, reflects on the ordeal and hopes to explore whether her blood contains antibodies that could help treat other COVID-19 patients. Although she understands that most people with the virus recover, she is grateful that she survived without spending several days in the hospital. "It's usually people like me who have an under- lying condition … that don't make it," she said. "My faith really sustained me. It's always been import- ant in my life and I feel like I had God's hand on my shoulder the whole time." 1709 DRYDEN ROAD, HOUSTON TX 77030 | 713.730.2404 | SALES@THEWESTINHOUSTON.COM | MARRIOTT.COM/HOUWA HOTEL SNAPSHOT - 12 Flexible Meeting Rooms - 2 Outdoor Terraces - 17,000+ SqFt of Meeting Space - 273 Luxurious Guestrooms - Rooftop Pool - - Pet Friendly swabbed my nose," Clapp said. "She undressed and put all the things in the plastic bag, and she left and I got the plastic bag and put it in my trash. That's what she did for me three times." Clapp's second test on April 1 was still positive. Flunking the first test after COVID-19 symptoms abate isn't unusual because patients with compromised immune systems take longer to slough off the virus. That result also meant a delayed return to full doses of chemo. Clapp was tested at home again on April 8 and got a negative result on April 9. A fourth test on April 10 returned another negative on April 11. "I was clear," she said, adding that she imme- diately resumed her full doses of chemo to treat her bone marrow cancer. "I am so appreciative for what Tahani and Teresa did to expedite getting me two negatives." In an email to the HHD, Clapp commended Hamdan and Garcia for the attention and care she received: "I want you to know what exceptional pub- lic servants you have with employees Tahani Hamdan and Teresa Garcia. … Tahani has called or texted almost daily. Her attentive and sincere manner has sustained me. Nurse Teresa Garcia has courageously come to my patio twice to retest me with such a gracious and loving spirit. I am 74 years old and a cancer patient, yet seldom have

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