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0000017c-83f8-d4f8-a77d-b3fd0c3b0001¿Qué Pasa, Midwest? is a bilingual podcast that creates a sense of community for Midwestern Latinx who are missing an essential piece of their cultural identity. We do that by sharing their stories to create a sense of hope and alliance. We also foster education on divisive issues. Let us know what's happening, en tu ciudad, in your city! Submit your ideas! Dejanos saber de que estan hablando en el Medio Oeste.

¿QPM? S6 Ep. 8 Our Last Episode. How is recovery coming along?

PAOLA MARIZÁN

Hola. Bienvenidos a nuestro último episodio of season 6. For this episode, we recap algunas de las historias we told and update you on other ones.

Pero primero queremos decir, a big thank you to all of you who listen to our podcast. Gracias por su apoyo and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter - @quepasamidwest.

Ahora, empecemos con nuestro primer episodio. En este, we talked to Amy about finding adequate healthcare during the pandemic - while she was pregnant and unemployed - something many had to do en esta crisis. Amy had her baby and they’re doing great. 

Amy's partner, Andrea Mariani, her daughter Roberta James and her baby Diego Gastelum Mariani. They had just arrived home from the hospital. (Courtesy Amy Gastelum)

For our second episode, we heard the story about the first double-lung transplant patient - Mayra Ramirez. This story was en colaboracion con Christine Herman with Side Effects Public Media. We reached out to Christine para ver como sigue Mayra pero according to her, Mayra had been recovering from being in the ICU again, because of another infection after the surgery.

Credit Northwestern Medicine
Mayra Ramirez received a double lung transplant after COVID-19 caused irreversible damage to her lungs.

En el episodio tres we talked to Kassandra. She told us the story from a student’s perspective and how it was so mentally draining to study online and how the sense of community was lost among amigos that usually gathered at the multicultural center. She said she was eager to go back to in-person classes and to socialize with more of her peers. To her, this is what recovery is about. Being able to grow together and mingle sin preocupaciones.

Kassandra Santos, far left, on campus. (Courtesy Kassandra Santos)

Nuestros ultimos episodios - Episode six and seven - were focused on learning more about why Latinos were not getting vaccinated. Descubrimos que, la comunidad Latina no tenía la información necesaria to make an informed decision and consent to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. En estos episodios, hablamos con las personas que hicieron de esto algo más fácil. People who not only translated the state’s department of health intake form to Spanish - but who also put together a vaccine clinic at the local Holy Rosary church.

Más de cien feligreses se pusieron la vacuna luego de la misa. And recently, they all had the chance to get their second vaccine. A step forward in the right direction - para que las personas se sientan más cómodas y seguras.

Credit Steve Burger
COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the local Holy Rosary church

How is your recovery coming along? ¿Tienes una situación similar a algunas de estas historias? ¿Haz aplicado para Medicaid Or did you already receive the vaccine? Déjanos saber. Let us know your thoughts, tweet us @quepasamidwest

Eso nos trae al final de esta temporada. Gracias a todos los que nos contaron their stories. Special thanks to Mareea Thomas and Steve Burger who helped produce this season

Dinos, ¿qué pasa, midwest?

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