katie howie

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by_a.thread

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katie howie

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by_a.thread

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authentic portraits

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inspired styling

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about katie

by_a.thread :: pandemic stories


a living history of
a 21st century American community exploring what it means to be human during a global pandemic.

we're all connected by a thread.

physician assistant in college health

Nov 24, 2020

physician assistant in college health

"...I love working with college students. I know right now there are many people frustrated with their age demographic, but I wish people would stop and think a minute...please have some patience, some understanding, and a little bit of grace. Wear your masks, set good examples for your friends and neighbors, and most importantly, keep pressure on those making decisions..."

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following the thread :: firefighter and EMT

Nov 23, 2020

following the thread :: firefighter and EMT

"I have remained Covid-free so far... and fortunately we've only had one case of Covid at our station on all 3 shifts this whole time. Not all stations have not been so lucky. There have been some whole crews shut down due to all members coming down with coronavirus...But I am confident that with discipline...we can over come this worldwide medical crisis. We have to."

* Photo courtesy of Bernard Foster II

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following the thread :: physician OB/GYN

Nov 23, 2020

following the thread :: physician OB/GYN

"...As we move into COVID winter I’m feeling exhausted, anxious, and at times, hopeless...At the same time, I am doing my best to find glimmers of hope in the isolation...The recent data on the vaccines is exciting. I’m hopeful that our new administration will provide the leadership, support and changes we need, but there is SO MUCH work to do..."

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following the thread :: anonymous frontline worker

Nov 22, 2020

following the thread :: anonymous frontline worker

"Thank you for asking how I am. Let me think about it... As you know, it's been a rough week...we are so low on staff... I need to check myself before I say or do something, because I'm a little bitter right now with the current health care climate...We are not being treated like valued humans who are risking their lives. We are being treated like dogs they want to train to fight."

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director of quality and safety

Nov 21, 2020

director of quality and safety

"...In the last 8 months, I have been a part of making decisions that I never thought I would have to make. Policies about who gets to visit their dying loved one, which team members will take care of COVID patients, how to allocate scarce resources like PPE and vents...I am a fixer, a problem solver. And I can't fix a lot of this..."

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following the thread :: emergency medicine registered nurse

Nov 20, 2020

following the thread :: emergency medicine registered nurse

"...I am exhausted and lonely...I don’t understand how caring for our neighbors became less important than our freedom to not wear a mask. This is not freedom. Nevertheless. We committed to serving our community. And we’ll be here for you when you need us..."

* Photo courtesy of Anna Dykhuis, RN

Editor's Note: Please be there for them. Stay home and mask up when you are out, especially with friends and family not in your household.

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following the thread :: emergency room nurse

Nov 18, 2020

following the thread :: emergency room nurse

"...COVID19 is real. If you have not been impacted yet, you likely will be in the future. Health care workers have been sacrificing, and showing to help others, since the beginning of the pandemic. Those of us that are still healthy will keep showing up for as long as it takes..."

* Photo courtesy of Michael Coleman, RN

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marketing & office manager

Nov 17, 2020

marketing & office manager

"...I feel like my sense of self has become very strong due to The Pandemic...My relationships with people have become stronger, and any loose ends have been tied up. My home has become a sanctuary and I feel so full of gratitude for the life I've created as well as for the simple basics in life like good health, clean water, fresh air, etc..."

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following the thread :: grocery clerk

Nov 16, 2020

following the thread :: grocery clerk

"...My days are getting SUPER long with Thanksgiving right around the corner. People aren't near as grateful or as polite as they were at the beginning of the pandemic. I actually put in my notice at work this last week. I hit beyond burnout and I need a breather...I hope people are smart enough this holiday season to stay the fuck home. But people are selfish and I'm not optimistic."

* Photo courtesy of Maya Robinson

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lieutenant governor

Nov 14, 2020

lieutenant governor

". . .In addition to my role as Lt. Governor, I’m a mom, a wife, and a daughter of a parent with underlying conditions and I am navigating all of this as a human being, too. I think we sometimes forget to remember that we are all human beings doing the best we can and that no matter what, we can all start each day and each interaction with empathy and understanding...We’re in this together, Minnesota..."

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following the thread :: critical care nurse practitioner

Nov 13, 2020

following the thread :: critical care nurse practitioner

". . .These last 8-months have been brutal. I am burnt-out. I live everyday with constant anxiety...Add to this, working through two hospital closures. My friends and colleagues are going to lose their jobs. During a pandemic...I'm so very tired. Tired of people being so selfish. So stupid. Tired of seeing people suffer. I need a break. We all do..."

* Photo courtesy of Rebecca Wieben, CNP

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unemployed but not uninvolved

Nov 12, 2020

unemployed but not uninvolved

"...As someone with a chronic illness, the pandemic has further highlighted the challenges of living with an often invisible illness...In the United States we seem to still be stuck on the debate of if it is serious or not. I don't have the luxury of choosing to not take it seriously..."

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following the thread :: RN & hospice worker

Nov 10, 2020

following the thread :: RN & hospice worker

"...PLEASE take this seriously. The average person may not think they have a big role to play, or they may think that this is overblown and their actions don't affect others directly. I assure you, all of our actions matter...Hunker down, realize that life is not the same right now, and make some serious adjustments...Please! This nurse is begging you!"

* Photo courtesy of Angie Haigh

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recycling administrator, election judge, US census enumerator, community organizer, and mother

Nov 10, 2020

recycling administrator, election judge, US census enumerator, community organizer, and mother

"...These pandemics have opened the eyes of many to understand that radical systemic change needs to happen for us to reach equity. If someone gets COVID-19, it not only impacts their physical health. It takes a toll on their (and family's) mental health, lingering health issues, their job, housing situation, etc. These aren't new problems..."

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spontaneous joy & relief

Nov 07, 2020

spontaneous joy & relief

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris WIN!

Taking our Joy and Relief to the streets in St. Paul, Minnesota for the best day in four years.

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election day 2020

Nov 03, 2020

election day 2020

 I spent most of today checking in with my by_a.thread participants and telling their Election Day stories. 

Thank you. 

Be patient. We got this.

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following the thread :: emergency medicine physician

Nov 01, 2020

following the thread :: emergency medicine physician

"...This fire is out of control. I can't think of a time in 15 years of working in ERs where hospitals are so overwhelmed. And I think this is just the beginning unless something changes...I have a simmering concern about ongoing surge of Covid in the community, without any apparent new efforts to curb spread. This is especially concerning as we have seen widespread lack of hospital bed availability in the broader metro area of the Twin Cities..."

*Photo courtesy of Dr. Frank Villaume, IV

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vote like your life depends on it

Oct 27, 2020

vote like your life depends on it

Michelle says! Vote like your life depends on it.

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thank you governor

Oct 25, 2020

thank you governor

Front yard in Crocus Hill, St. Paul, Minnesota. Thank you Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Gov Peggy Flanagan for your work to keep all Minnesotans safe and thriving during this difficult time.

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grade school principal

Oct 22, 2020

grade school principal

"...This is my first year as an elementary school principal so sometimes It's hard to distinguish what unique to this year. What I find most challenging this year is the wide range of what parents and teachers want...Some folks are really ready to get back into the building and others are very scared and worried. The range of opinions and emotions is great..."

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what i miss

Oct 19, 2020

what i miss

...I took it for granted, mainly. That it was always there (I had been going infrequently since I was an aspiring Gen Xer in the early 90s). And that it would remain...I'm not sure when we will be back inside, brushing an accidental shoulder with a stranger and smiling without masks concealing our hearts. So until then, I'm gonna do my damnedest to smile big with my eyes...

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following the thread :: infectious disease specialist

Oct 17, 2020

following the thread :: infectious disease specialist

"...Just another day of not letting this virus dominate my life (Insert HEAVY sarcasm and dig at Trump)..."

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high school student

Oct 16, 2020

high school student

"...I think one of the most important things this virus has given me is perspective. My father has a type of cancer that would not mix well with Corona, so my family has taken extra measures to stay inside and away from people. I have watched from afar as my friends and schoolmates hug, play with and hang out with each other, and it isn't the best feeling in the world..."

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indigenous peoples day

Oct 12, 2020

indigenous peoples day

It's Indigenous Peoples Day! Who's land do you live on? What language do they speak? What was done to them? How are they now?

Educate yourselves. Here's a great resource: https://native-land.ca/

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following the thread :: salon owner & stylist

Oct 12, 2020

following the thread :: salon owner & stylist

“...Salon life is starting to feel more and more normal. Which is a testament to how adaptable humans can become. Wearing masks and cleaning incessantly doesn’t feel like a big deal anymore. What does feel like a big deal though is how wonderful it is to see old and new clients smiling under their masks...”

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international day of the girl

Oct 12, 2020

international day of the girl

Ruthless Event hosted by Wet Paint and Brandon Litman. 

Art as Protest. 
Art as Inspiration.
Art as Therapy.
Art seeing us through 2020 in all the ways. 

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retired homemaker

Oct 07, 2020

retired homemaker

"...Due to COVID-19, I haven't spent much time with my family or friends for months, because of cross contamination worries and health issues. It's a very lonely existence. I message or phone friends, I write with online poetry groups of virtual friends all over the world, I read, I watch movies...I know I'm one of the lucky ones, as I still live in my own home with my husband..."

* Photograph of Marianne and her daughter Katie around 1991

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voting counts!

Oct 03, 2020

voting counts!

Teaching my kids that Voting Counts! Make your plan, and vote!

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writer & artist

Sep 30, 2020

writer & artist

"...As a writer, I have been feeling full of emotion and have felt challenged to write. So many feelings and instead of spilling out, they are waterfalling inside of me with seemingly no end. And I am discovering that somehow I am still grateful to be alive and be apart of this movement work, this healing journey, this surrender into sweetness and abundance for Black life...I want to end the lie that something about Blackness is inferior or troubled..."

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following the thread :: artist & doula

Sep 27, 2020

following the thread :: artist & doula

“This pandemic has been hard. But, we can and have done hard things. We welcomed our fourth son and he is the brightest spot on this dark and stormy season. I am so thankful he’s here.”

* Photo courtesy of Kaytee Crawford, by Gather Birth Minnesota.

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at-large residential representative, foundation board chair, & plaintiff's class action attorney

Sep 23, 2020

at-large residential representative, foundation board chair, & plaintiff's class action attorney

"...Justice Ginsburg's decisions are the first ones I ever read where I felt like I was the subject and not the object of the decision...for women lawyers especially, her legacy is one that we deserve to be in all places where decisions are being made, and that we could do that while parenting and working and bringing our whole selves to both..."

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non-profit executive director & army veteran

Sep 19, 2020

non-profit executive director & army veteran

"...I spent almost ten years in the Army Reserve, including a couple trips to Iraq. That service has given me a pretty deep well to draw from in the COVID environment...as a combat vet, having Blackhawks flying over my house all night and being able to hear and smell what was happening on Lake Street brought back some feelings I never expected to feel in my own house..."

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following the thread :: high school spanish teacher

Sep 18, 2020

following the thread :: high school spanish teacher

"I've been on quarantine for a week and a half since I was exposed during my first week of school. I still have to stay home from work another half a week but I am continuing to do all my lessons on Zoom, teaching a full day from my house with my students in my classroom in the school building."

* Photo courtesy of Tommy Murray

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freelance copywriter

Sep 15, 2020

freelance copywriter

"...The pandemic has hit different industries in different ways, including advertising...throw in an unexpected stage IV cancer diagnosis, and all bets are off..."

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high school spanish teacher

Sep 08, 2020

high school spanish teacher

"...There's a tension...I think many teachers are struggling with anxiety about getting back in the classroom and making sure that we can still do the job AND maintain the health and safety standards that we feel are necessary to keep people from getting sick. My job is prioritizing student learning and I know being with them physically maximizes the potential students have for learning..."

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non-profit executive director & st. paul school board candidate

Sep 03, 2020

non-profit executive director & st. paul school board candidate

"...We know our local business community needs support more than ever right now so we're getting creative... what we're planning to do moving forward is thanks to so many community members who've made a renewed commitment to shopping local... As a POC who's benefited from an immense amount of privilege growing up, there's a lot more that I should be doing to combat injustices, racism, and systemic inequities in my own community..."

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cultural strategy manager, friend, sister, & daughter

Aug 31, 2020

cultural strategy manager, friend, sister, & daughter

"...Human beings are pretty fucking incredible. I’m so lucky that I get to listen to people as part of my job. I witness bold truths, powerful stories, and beautiful experiences around love, solidarity, justice, and connection every day... storytelling is how we make meaning, see connections, access our lineage and ancestry... it's an integral part of the human experience... "

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firefighter and EMT

Aug 28, 2020

firefighter and EMT

"...Due to The Pandemic I’m more cautious about protecting myself from possible exposure from my patients and am very meticulous about wearing my PPE. And I make it a priority to be aware of my surroundings while on calls with a potential for violence or police interacting with us, not only at work, but also while I’m off duty..."

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following the thread :: hospital medicine

Aug 27, 2020

following the thread :: hospital medicine

"...This past string of seven sleep deprived overnights in the hospital was a hard one. I saw some very sad Covid cases. But, I saw more "normal" cases and how they have been affected by The Pandemic...these patients weren't able to get the care they needed when they needed it, and it's now spiraled out of control... I just want this thing to leave us all alone already..."

* Photos courtesy of Dr. Lourdes Villaume.

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caretaker and mother

Aug 25, 2020

caretaker and mother

"...Being the wife and caregiver for someone with a serious illness and the mother of a person of color has never been boring, but in this moment of a global pandemic and racial upheaval, it feels like everywhere I look danger is targeted directly at the two people I love the most... If you shout and post and tweet that "All Lives Matter," then please include the two that live with me..."

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registered emergency department nurse

Aug 23, 2020

registered emergency department nurse

"...Many of our patients may have Covid-19, they just don't present like it... and so we would not know, and would not test as they do not present with a Covid-19 symptom profile. It's a scenario that requires us to adhere to strict PPE usage no matter what the chief complaint is... I also hope people start see the value in science and the scientific model, and lean back into it and trust in it wholeheartedly..."

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mother & cervical cancer patient

Aug 21, 2020

mother & cervical cancer patient

Editor's note: it is with a heavy heart that I let the @by_a.thread community know that  beautiful & brave participant Lindsay Norton (@lnortonj33) passed away Friday, August 21, 2020 from cervical cancer. She is missed immensely. Deepest condolences to her husband, five year old son, mother, and all who loved her. This is a gutting reminder to love your people. And to tell them you love them. 

Life is a Gift. We're all connected by a thread.

"...If there was ever a time to be kind to one another and ourselves it’s now... "

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college student

Aug 19, 2020

college student

"...I was at the protests everyday for two weeks after the murder of George Floyd. Then I began volunteering in the neighborhoods that were affected by the store closures. There are two pandemics, COVID-19 and systematic racism... I have nothing but conviction and time..."

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bus operator

Aug 18, 2020

bus operator

"...I want people to know that both masks and fares are required to ride the bus. And that as Bus Operators, we are essential workers who are doing the best we can under difficult circumstances... cleanliness (disinfecting, sanitizing, washing your hands, covering your mouth or sneeze) is not just an option, its a necessity..."

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following the thread :: hospitalist

Aug 17, 2020

following the thread :: hospitalist

"...I probably contracted this at work from an asymptomatic/presymptomatic patient who wasn’t wearing a mask. Going forward, I will insist every patient wear a mask when I’m seeing them because that is most important for preventing the spread..."

* Photo courtesy of Justin Cohenour, MD

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sexual health educator

Aug 13, 2020

sexual health educator

"...I was up late the night Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. I came across the video while scrolling and immediately wished I could unsee it. It was horrifying. The next day, I was glued to the news and social media. By the following night I was down on Lake Street at the protests..."

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second grade teacher

Aug 10, 2020

second grade teacher

"...Something that society might not realize is that teachers are CONSTANTLY observing. We watch kids interact with each other; we notice slight changes in behavior. This allows us to get to the bottom of what is going wrong or right in students' lives. It was really difficult for me to do that for the last 3 months of school, and I worried so much about so many of my kids..."

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support local farmers

Aug 09, 2020

support local farmers

...They have taken their Farmer's Market bounty ordering online Fridays to then directly bring it to your door on Saturday! This is what my family received - it was as delicious as it is gorgeous. I highly recommend you put in an order for the next Saturday you are able:

https://hangfarm.company.site 

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chapters

early pandemic murder of george floyd & civil unrest pandemic summer & covid fatigue back to school pandemic election surge, restrictions, & pandemic holidays winter solstice & vaccination arrival inauguration & a national strategy a new normal

recent stories

waiting
Apr 07, 2021
following the thread (vaccination) :: lieutenant governor
Apr 05, 2021
registered nurse & mother
Apr 05, 2021

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