NBA Spencer Haywood, 71 aos, super el coronavirus
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Spencer Haywood He was a pioneer, legend and member of the Hall of in the NBA. And now it is also a covid-19 survivor. At 71, Haywood has beaten the virus and now wants to send a message to the world: “Stop stigmatizing those of us who survived this scourge“.
Ostracism with those who have overcome covid-19 has become one of the by-products of the pandemic, at least in the United States. Some virus survivors have lost their jobs, for the fear of their companions that they may continue to infect. Others are treated by friends and neighbors an as stoned, from afar, judged for having contracted the virus and with people assuming that the necessary precautions were not taken.
“Un stigma as it is is also a global health problem, because it is a rejection that many people suffer, “said Dr. Seema Yasmin.” People judge by their own microscope and sometimes that means denying the help that others need. “
It is true that, fortunately, this is not very widespread, but those survivors who suffer from it can talk about it.
Haywood contracted the virus sometime on New Years Day and now he’s recovered after two weeks of hard time. In fact his breathing is still not normal and his vision is blurry.
In the United States there were 80,000 deaths from covid in the last month and it is estimated that there will be more than 600,000 more before the curve can be bent.
But there are also millions of survivors, people who want to get back to their lives without having to bear the label of ‘COVID’ as a drag on their relationships.
“I am happy to be a voice for all of them“Haywood said in an exclusive interview for Basketballnews.com.”What people have to understand is that they should not stigmatize us. It is not a death sentence. There is a very high percentage of people who exceed it. Still it is a huge problem and only together can we eradicate it. “
“It’s going to be a great race from now on“According to the NBA legend.”But I want to tell people that you can get over it, and that those of us who survive them want to return to normal without a stigma that makes it more difficult for us to continue living. “
Haywood played in the ABA and NBA from 1965 to 1985, in the Denver Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics (where you have your 24 retired), New York Knicks, New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers y Washington Bullets. He won an Olympic gold medal with the USA at the 1968 Games in Mexico. In his 13 years in the League, he averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. He changed the NBA rules by being the first player to jump into the NBA since college without completing four years of the school year.
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