Opinion: People with serious illness can teach us a lot about living with Covid-19

As the U.S. grapples with a potentially deadly pandemic, it can learn a lot from people like me who are living with serious illness.

Before you throw tomatoes, hear me out. People who live every day with chronic, advanced, and complex illnesses can help shape public attitudes toward following guidelines to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

I say that because I believe that people coping with serious illness — advanced cancer, transplant recipients, heart failure, autoimmune conditions, and more — have a unique perspective to help the public respond to recommendations to decrease transmission of the novel coronavirus and maximize our commitment to each other during an uncertain time.

When the fear of illness is raised, in addition to the voices of government, public health, and medical