Janice Dean: Cuomo, COVID and the anniversary of my mother-in-law's death – why this week was so hard

This week has felt like the toughest I’ve had in a year. It’s as if my body and mind have been in a constant state of survival mode.

I have this quote printed out and posted on my wall. I have read it every day and I realized my family has lived through that storm. April 14th was the one-year anniversary of my mother-in-law Dolores "Dee" Newman’s death.  We remembered my father-in-law Mickey’s passing at the end of March. As many of you know, we lost them both to COVID in long-term care facilities. This week has felt like the toughest I’ve had in a year. It’s as if my body and mind have been in a constant state of survival mode. Finally, on the anniversary of my mother-in-law’s death, I fell apart.