Ron and Sherri Hildebrandt are a semiretired couple from Niverville currently serving a mandatory self-isolation order since their unexpected return from working with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) in Rockport, Texas. The site was closed abruptly and they were directed to return home as soon as possible.
“None of our usual life has resumed as we patiently wait for the 14-day isolation period to be done,” says Sherri. “We moved to a senior’s housing complex in the past year and everyone here is being vigilant in making sure we stay virus-free if we possibly can! We’re just hoping and praying that the self-isolation time won’t be extended!”
Ron is an appliance technician and Sherri is a human resource advisor, as well as an author and public speaker. They had arranged to be away for two months this winter, but even if they hadn’t been out of country on an MDS trip, they would’ve been active with their part-time work, as well as curling, painting, and traveling to visit their children and grandchildren in other provinces.
For them, the biggest challenge during isolation so far has been the lack of in-person social contact.
“We drove straight home in our RV from Texas after almost two months of living with others and having daily contact with people,” explains Sherri. “This has been harder than we thought it might be. It’s a good thing we still like each other! 24/7 with the same person in a small condo is a test that I think we’d both get a passing grade on, but it’s not always easy! Also, I’m a hugger—and those elbow taps are not doing it for me!”
Maintaining mental health is another struggle. Between TV and online media, it can get overwhelming to be constantly informed about COVID-19 and the social distancing measures being implemented in Manitoba, even though it is necessary.
“It’s hard not to let this barrage of media scare you,” she says. “Even if you don’t want to admit it, there seems to be an underlying sense of unrest because your world has been disrupted, and you have no idea what normal will look like on the other side—or when the other side will arrive! We pray for our children and grandchildren to be safe and healthy as they figure out how to do life in this chaos.”
The Hildebrandts say they rely on faith during this stressful time as they worry for their children, since one of them is immunocompromised, one is a nurse working in trauma, and another has asthma. They also both have elderly parents.
The couple says they are playing games, discussing life, cooking together, and cleaning together. Another benefit is having time to reach out and reconnect with friends and family via the internet.
“I’ve had chats online and on the phone with people I haven’t seen or talked to in a while, which has been so rewarding and filled my social interaction tank,” says Sherri. “Our children and grandchildren have had time to talk to us. They are all working and raising their own families and don’t always have time to keep in contact. Now they are all working from home, except for the nurse, and we have been getting in touch much more now.”
Talking and connecting with each other as a couple during isolation is just as important as finding others to talk to. Ron and Sherri recommend turning off the TV and actually talking to diffuse the tension that builds with all the social distancing rules.
“Laugh,” she adds. “Read each other jokes or watch a comedy and laugh together. Find the humour in the situation. If it’s all gloom and doom, you’ve lost the battle! Do something together—we baked buns yesterday. And if it gets to be too much, and you know you’re spiralling, reach out. Call someone and let them know. We need each other now more than ever and without being able to reach out and physically hug someone, do it virtually if you can. Call a friend, chat online or text.”
And nap. One of Sherri’s hobbies is painting and she says she now has the time and energy to get into the headspace required to do it.
