Love in the Time of Insult and Injury

And just like that I met Insult and Injury.

Following a seven week quarantine, my husband and I were eager to spend an evening amongst friends now that Santa Barbara had just entered phase two of our city’s Coronavirus guidelines. What I never imagined was that a foolish attempt to social distance by climbing a tree would result in an incident that would inch me ever closer to our benevolent community. And so it was that three couples, an al fresco dinner and avocado tree became unwitting participants in a scene that culminated with a six foot fall and nine first responders. Meet Injury.

Yesterday an Instagram post, loving comments and needless one-handed editing by a relentless perfectionist (yours truly) resulted in an accidental post delete. Meet Insult.

Santa Barbara’s phase 2 Covid regulations and the unveiling of Designs by Alina Belgian linen masks to benefit Direct Relief occurred in perfect syncopation. I was so excited about the positive feedback and orders that only my children’s upcoming drive-through graduation ceremony stood a chance to stake its claim to the only vacant corner in my preoccupied mind.

I was admitted to the operating room for emergency surgery immediately following that fateful Friday night fall and Covid-19 test, the results of which offered me two nights and two days in our city’s new Cottage Hospital. Kind and experienced nurses, technicians and doctors peppered the hallways of the noticeably vacant hospital. But when Covid 19 unleashed its wrath, a new protocol prohibiting family and friends from visiting patients was left in its wake, giving birth to the type of collateral damage which makes for a lonely hospital stay.

Yesterday I entered my own phase 2 when I returned to another O.R. where a skillful hand surgeon with the demeanor of a saint tackled reconstruction of my left wrist. Although I will need a third surgery down the road, I continue to count my blessings, not least the care I received from the superb staff at Cottage and love from family and friends near and far.

Despite the pain, long-term consequences and severity of the injury, I often found myself yearning for a way to salvage the Direct Relief mask project I had come to view as the embodiment of beauty, safety and charity in today’s uncertain times. Not only is my beloved community ensuring that the project stay alive, but I've been humbled by acts of kindness in the way of fabric donations and able hands to aid me in the effort. It is because of our loving community that we have increased our Direct Relief commitment to 100% of net proceeds from 50%.

As I imagine the long road to recovery, I feel empowered by the nurturing gestures of both my real and virtual communities and hope that you too feel galvanized by benevolence as we take on Covid 19 together.

To learn more about our Direct Relief cause and Belgian linen masks, please visit our Belgian Linen Mask page.

Thank you, Santa Barbara and virtual global village for your kind words, flowers, dinners, acts of kindness and love.

xoxo, Alina