I’m Awake! Memoirs of the Covid-19 Experience….

I’m Awake! Memoirs of the Covid-19 Experience… compiles Natasha Hambi’s letters to her partner, Alex Johnson-Dunbar, during his coma in the first wave of the pandemic. The authors aim to “provide hope and faith to anyone who has been or is going through a similar experience” (Hambi and Johnson-Dunbar). Hambi’s perspective dominates the book as she grapples with her partner’s condition, leaning on religious beliefs for solace. The letters showcase how a relative of a severely ill COVID patient navigates grief while striving for optimism. Hambi negotiates with her partner, seeking harmony and forgiveness in the face of possible death. Johnson-Dunbar shares his own COVID experience, including nightmares and healing. Their journey exposes the communal impact of the pandemic and coping strategies employed by families. Unlike Zwalf’s analysis, Hambi and Johnson-Dunbar maintain faith in the medical system and receive substantial community support. Their accounts shed light on the disparities in COVID treatment, contrasting Zwalf’s account of facing stigma, while Hambi’s heterosexual relationship and Johnson-Dunbar’s “legitimate” patient status also embody alternative identities.