Whether she\u2019s gardening or writing her upcoming memoir, Katie Couric has found meaningful ways to make the most of her time at home. In our exclusive interview, Couric shares why she\u2019s shedding light on the untold stories during COVID-19 and how she\u2019s been staying optimistic.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been quite a challenging year. How have you been adjusting to the new normal?<\/strong> What are some other ways you\u2019ve been staying optimistic?<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n #FacesofCOVID: This morning in Wake-Up Call we profiled Mary \u201cCherry\u201d Santiago, who was fun-loving and passionate about many things. But her two sons, Alexander and Aiden, were at the top of that list. Just after Alexander graduated from Evanston High School this year, he received a surprise gift in the mail \u2014 a longboard. The gift was from his mom. She was not around to give it to him. Cherry had died of Covid-19 just a few weeks earlier. She was 44. \u201cKnowing her, because her boys were her life, she probably thought, \u2018I better get this done just in case they keep me in the hospital for a little while,\u2019\u201d her cousin Leah Bardfield told us. \u201cAnd now it’s sad that he’s opening it and his mother’s not around.\u201d She was exposed to someone who eventually tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11th, and started to feel sick six days later. Her temperature skyrocketed, so she got tested at a drive-in testing center. Her symptoms escalated\u2014she could barely walk up the stairs without extremely labored breathing. She checked herself into the hospital on May 6th. \u201cThey’ll probably admit me for a day or two, but I need to be home with the boys for Mother’s Day,\u201d she told her best friend Kymberly Thompson. She was put on a ventilator at the hospital, and her oxygen levels began to fluctuate. Kymberly told us: \u201cShe texted me \u2018Good morning, Kap,\u2019 which is short for Kapatid, which means \u2018sister\u2019 in the Philippines. \u201cShe said, \u2018Here’s the harsh reality: I don’t know when I’ll be able to go back home.\u2019\u201d Cherry died on May 12th, two days after Mother\u2019s Day. Kymberly said, \u201cShe is the other part of me,\u201d She’s the one that kept me going, the person I talked to about everything every day. I\u2019ve never been that close to somebody in the way that we were close.\u201d Rest in Peace, Cherry. You mattered.<\/a><\/p>\n A post shared by Katie Couric<\/a> (@katiecouric) on
\nI\u2019ve been spending a ton of time going through memory boxes while I write my memoir (which has proven to be a massive undertaking). It\u2019s also been really nice to spend some more time with my daughters. All things considered, I feel really lucky compared to so many people who have gotten sick, lost their jobs, or are going through this alone.<\/p>\n
\nI try to limit my news intake every day. My morning newsletter, Wake-Up Call is a great way to stay on top of things without being inundated with information (shameless plug, sign up at www.katiecouric.com<\/a>). I\u2019m also in awe of how people have been so innovative, empathetic, and selfless throughout the pandemic. I interviewed the founder of Love Beyond Walls<\/a> who put sinks in public places during the pandemic so homeless people could wash their hands. In many ways, this time has brought out the best in people.<\/p>\n\n