>> EVERY PATIENT THAT I CARE FOR IS LIKE TAKING CARE OF MY OWN CHILD.

I AM A NURSING ASSISTANT AT LIFESPAN.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE NICU FOR 10 YEARS.

I LOVE THE MIRACLES THAT WE SEE.

IT IS SO REWARDING.

THE FAMILIES THAT WE GET TO HELP, THEY PUT THEIR CHILD IN OUR HANDS.

WE HAVE TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.

DAVID: TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> YOU HAVE MADE NO SECRET THAT YOU THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD NOT BE WELCOME TO COMMUNION.

EVEN THOUGH POPE FRANCIS SORT OF SLAPPED THAT DOWN.

>> SO YES, IF PRESIDENT BIDEN WERE TO FIND HIMSELF HERE, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK HIM NOT TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION.

PAMELA: MARK WAS THE FIRST COVID-19 PATIENT IN RHODE ISLAND.

HE SPENT WEEKS STRUGGLING TO BREATHE, BUT WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES, OR SO HE THOUGHT.

>> 84, WHICH IS NOT VERY GOOD.

YOUR O2 LEVELS, YOU SHOULD BE IN THE ER, BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

♪ PAMELA: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

DAVID: I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

THE DIOCESE OF PROVIDENCE TURNS 150 YEARS OLD NEXT MONTH, SO WE THOUGHT IT A GOOD TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH THE MAN WHO HAS LED THE DIOCESE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

BISHOP THOMAS WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST IN 1973, THE YEAR THAT ROE V. WADE CAME INTO EFFECT.

HE WAS CONSECRATED A BISHOP BY SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II, WHO ASSIGNED HIM TO PROVIDENCE A FEW DAYS BEFORE HIS DEATH IN 2005 FOR BISHOP TOBIN'S ENTIRE CAREER IN THE CLERGY, HE HAS BEEN AN ANTIABORTION ACTIVIST.

NOW, ROE V. WADE APPEARS TO BE ON ITS WAY OUT, BUT IN RHODE ISLAND, ABORTION RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED BY LAW.

IT LAW UPHELD BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE YOUR FIGHT AS AN OPPONENT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT THINK IT WILL STAGE -- CHANGE THE STATUS QUO IN RHODE ISLAND BECAUSE WE HAVE A STATE LAW THAT LEGALIZES ABORTION, BUT WE HAVE TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, WHY ABORTION IS SO WRONG.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE LAWS OF THE LAND AND SAY, ABORTION IS WRONG.

IT IS A GRAVE SIN, IT IS AN ABOMINABLE CRIME AS THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL SAID OR AS POPE FRANCIS HAS SAID MORE RECENTLY, ABORTION IS MURDER.

DAVID: YOU HAVE MADE NO SECRET THAT YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD NOT BE WELCOME TO COMMUNION.

EVEN THOUGH POPE FRANCIS SORT OF SLAPPED THAT DOWN.

>> WELL WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT POPE FRANCIS SAID TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT EXACTLY COMPLETELY FULFILLED AND REVEALED AFTER THEIR MEETING IN ROME.

ONE WAS THAT?

LAST FALL.

RESIDENT BIDEN SAID THE POPE SAID HE WAS A GOOD CATHOLIC.

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

I SUPPOSE IT IS POSSIBLE, BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

DAVID: THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS ARE LOOKING TO DENY COMMUNION TO PRESIDENT BIDEN.

POPE FRANCIS SENT A STRONG MESSAGE SAYING DO NOT OBSESS OVER THE SKY.

>> I THINK WHAT THE POPE HIMSELF HAS INDICATED IS WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE PRACTICE AND POLICY OF THE LAW AND THE CHURCH ON THAT.

IT IS UP TO THE LOCAL BISHOP TO DECIDE WHO RECEIVES THE SACRAMENTS IN HIS OWN DIOCESE.

DAVID: SO IF PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME TO CHURCH OR, YOU WOULD NOT GIVE HIM THE WAFER?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AGAIN, IT IS NOT JUST THE WAFER, WE BELIEVE THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.

WERE NOT PASSING OUT POTATO CHIPS AND COOKIES, IT IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.

SO IF PRESIDENT BIDEN WERE TO FIND HIMSELF HERE, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK HIM NOT TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CATHOLICS WHO SHOULD NOT BE RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION.

ANY CATHOLIC -- BEING A CATHOLIC IS NOT A PASSPORT TO COMMUNION.

DAVID: WHY IS THE CHURCH NOT AS AGGRESSIVE WITH POLITICIANS WHO SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY?

>> THE CHURCH HAS INCREASINGLY SAID THE DEATH OF THE IS WRONG, HOWEVER, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN TERMS.

DAVID: RIGHT TO LIFE'S RIGHT TO LIFE, EVEN FOR THE PRESIDENT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I SAID THE CHURCH HAS THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS WRONG.

AND YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THEM.

I HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

DAVID: SHOULD POLITICIANS WHO SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY RECEIVE COMMUNION?

>> I THINK THEY NEED TO EXAMINE THEIR CONSCIENCE ON THAT, BUT KEEP IN MIND, THERE IS A LITURGICAL CANONICAL DIFFERENCE.

FIRST OF ALL IN TERMS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT VERSUS ABORTION, THERE ARE WHAT IN THE UNITED STATES?

MAYBE 50 EXECUTIONS A YEAR, WHICH IS TERRIBLE IN ITSELF, THERE ARE 600,000 BABIES WHO ARE KILLED IN ABORTION.

THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS SAID THAT ABORTION IS WRONG.

WE ARE COMING TO UNDERSTAND THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS USUALLY WRONG AS WELL.

THE VATICAN COUNCIL SAID ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA ARE ABOMINABLE CRIMES.

THEY NEVER SAID THAT ABOUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

DAVID: BEFORE ROE V. WADE CAME INTO EFFECT, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SAFETY NET FOR UNWED MOTHERS AND UNWANTED PREGNANT SEES.

WE SAW HOW WELL THAT WENT.

9000 DEAD BABIES IN IRELAND ALONE ACCORDING TO THAT ONE REPORT.

MASS GRAVES IN CANADA.

SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL THAT HAS RIPPED APART THIS CHURCH FROM COAST TO COAST ND AROUND THE WORLD.

WHAT IS THE SAFETY NET NOW?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I'M VERY GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE OFTEN PEOPLE WILL SAY, YOU ARE OPPOSED TO ABORTION AND WORRIED ABOUT UNBORN CHILDREN, WHAT YOU DO FOR CHILDREN AFTER THEY ARE BORN?

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND I CAN SPEAK SPECIFIC WIDGET IS DIOCESE, WE ARE PROVIDING CARE FOR CHILDREN MORE THAN ANY OTHER AGENCY IN THE STATE, EXCEPT FOR THE STATE, ITSELF, BY FAR.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN THIS STATE, MORE THAN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION.

SO YEAH, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT UNBORN CHILDREN, WE ARE ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT AND WE PRAY FOR AND FIND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AS WELL.

AND FAMILIES.

DAVID: FANTASTIC.

>> DO NOT DISCARD THEM.

DAVID: I'M NOT DISCARDING THEM, I'M LOOKING TO FORM A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DEBATE OVER ABORTION AND THE TERRIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL THAT THESE CHURCHES UNDER.

HOW DOES THE CHURCH HAVE ANY MORAL AUTHORITY AT ALL?

THE IDEA OF PROTECTING LIFE WHEN IT DID SUCH A HORRIBLE JOB PROTECTING ALL OF THOSE LIVES?

>> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR, THE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL HAS BEEN TERRIBLE.

IT HAS BEEN TERRIBLE FOR THE VICTIMS, THE SURVIVORS INVOLVED, THE FAMILIES, FOR THE CHURCH, FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE THING.

THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO SAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS ALTERNATIVE -- A TERRIBLE SCANDAL WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING GOOD NOW.

OF COURSE WE DO GOOD THINGS NOW AND WE RECOGNIZE THE TERRIBLE HARM OF THE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL.

DAVID: YOU HAD A PRIEST HERE TWO YEARS AGO SAY THAT ABORTION IS WORSE THAN PEDOPHILIA.

AT LEAST WITH PEDOPHILIA, NOBODY DIES.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> KNOW AND I SAID AT THE TIME I DID NOT AGREE WITH HIM.

HE RECANTED THAT BY THE WAY.

IT WAS A POORLY FRAMED STATEMENT AND HE SINCE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT.

AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME IT WAS AN IMPROPER THING IN AN INAPPROPRIATE THING TO SAY.

DAVID: ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT SEXUAL ABUSE NO LONGER HAPPENS IN THE DIOCESE OF PROVIDENCE?

>> YEAH, WELL OF COURSE YOU CAN NEVER GUARANTEE ANYTHING.

WE HAVE A LARGE DIOCESE, LOTS OF PEOPLE AND IT'S A TERRIBLE SIN, A TERRIBLE SITUATION FOR HUMAN BEINGS WHO SEXUALLY ABUSE OTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

I CANNOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING.

DAVID: IF IT DOES HAPPEN IT WILL BE DEALT WITH?

>> WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM OF REPORTING EVERY SINGLE INCIDENT OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

WE HAVE HAD A REPORT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES.

DAVID: THIS WHOLE ISSUE HAS COST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TERMS OF PEOPLE IN THE PEWS.

PEOPLE LOSING FAITH WITH THE INSTITUTION.

AND IN THE MIDST OF THAT, YOU HAVE COVID.

WHERE PEOPLE NEED SPIRITUAL COMFORT MORE THAN EVER.

BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, THE CHURCH'S HANDS ARE TIED.

HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO WEATHER COVID?

>> IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT, OF COURSE.

IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR US AND AS YOU SAY, EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD, AND SOCIETY BUT I THINK THE CHURCH HAS DONE FAIRLY WELL.

OUR ATTENDANCE IS PICKING UP AGAIN.

WE HEARING ANECDOTALLY AROUND THE DIOCESE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO SUNDAY MASS AND OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS HAVE DONE VERY WELL IN FACT.

DAVID: ENROLLMENT HAS JUMPED IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.

>> YEAH AND I THINK PEOPLE WANTED IN PERSON LEARNING.

MOST OF OUR SCHOOL STAYED OPEN ALMOST ALL THE TIME DURING COVID, VERY SAFELY.

WE HAD NO OUTBREAKS OF COVID DURING ALL OF THAT.

WE CERTAINLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT THEY WILL FIND THE BENEFIT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION AND STAY IN THERE, EVEN THOUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE OPEN AGAIN.

DAVID: LOOKING AROUND THE STATE, THE COUNTRY, THE WORLD, WHAT DO YOU SEE TO BE THE BIGGEST AND MOST URGENT SPIRITUAL CRISES ASIDE FROM ABORTION?

>> ABORTION IS A TERRIBE MORAL CRISIS, BUT I THINK THE LACK OF APPRECIATION FOR GOD'S PRESENCE AND GRACE IN OUR LIVES.

THE LACK OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PROTESTANT CHURCHES AND OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES.

HOPE JOHN PAUL SAID ONE OF THE GREAT CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME IS THE PRACTICAL AND EXISTENTIAL ATHEISM OF OUR AGE.

HE SAYS PEOPLE NO LONGER BOTHER TO DENY THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

THEY SIMPLY TRY TO LIVE WITHOUT HIM.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE FIND.

PEOPLE ARE NOT AS RELIGIOUS AS THEY USED TO BE AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CHURCH ANYWHERE, ANY DENOMINATION AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.

THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUT FOR OTHER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

DAVID: WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

>> PLUGGING AWAY AND WE DO OUR BEST, BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE VERY MUCH IN FAITH AND TRUST.

WE DO OUR BEST BUT IN THE END, IT IS IN GOD'S HANDS.

PAMELA: NOW SOME STARTLING NEW INFORMATION CAME OUT THIS WEEK WHERE THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL RELEASED A NEW STUDY ON ADULT COVID SURVIVORS.

A GOVERNMENT AGENCY RECENTLY FOUND THAT ONE IN FIVE INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE AGE OF 65 EXPERIENCES ONE LINGERING HEALTH CONDITION AFTER HAVING COVID.

FOR INDIVIDUALS OLDER THAN 65, THAT NUMBER JUMPS TO ONE IN WAR.

THESE CONDITIONS ARE OFTEN KNOWN AS LONG COVID.

BECAUSE SYMPTOMS CAN LAST FOR A MONTH OR MUCH MORE AFTER THE INITIAL INFECTION.

THE SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE LUNG EMBOLISM'S, KIDNEY FAILURE, AND A VARIET OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE COVID AND EXPERIENCE LONG COVID, MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL PAID A VISIT LAST MARCH TO THOSE WHO HAVE SURVIVED TO THE VIRUS, INCLUDING THE FIRST PERSON IN RHODE ISLAND CONTRACTED IT.

>> WE DISCOVERED WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE FIRST CASE OF CORONAVIRUS HERE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

MICHELLE: THE STATE SAYS IT HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS DAY.

>> WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAN WITH CORONAVIRUS HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

MICHELLE: IT WAS MARCH 1, 2020 WHEN THEN GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO ANNOUNCED THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 IN THE STATE.

ALTHOUGH NO ONE KNEW AT THE TIME, THAT PATIENT WAS A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR MARK.

HE HAD RECENTLY RETURNED TO RHODE ISLAND AFTER A TRIP TO EUROPE, WHERE HE WAS CHAPERONING IT OF STUDENTS.

ON THE FLIGHT HOME, HE STARTED TO FEEL SICK.

HIS WIFE BRENDA URGED HIM TO GO TO A WALK-IN CLINIC NEAR THEIR HOME IN COBB ENTRY.

>> I WOULD NOT DESCRIBE IT AS THE FLU ON STEROIDS.

IT WAS BODYACHES, EXTREME FATIGUE, HEADACHE, LIKE A MIGRAINE, DIFFICULT BREATHING, COUGHING.

MICHELLE: HE HAS LIVED WITH ASTHMA HIS WHOLE LIFE, BUT HE SAYS THIS FELT DIFFERENT.

SEVERAL DAYS INTO BEING HOME, HIS SYMPTOMS CONTINUED TO WORSEN.

THE 48-YEAR-OLD WAS ADMITTED INTO MIRIAM HOSPITAL AND BECAME THE FIRST PERSON IN RHODE ISLAND TO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

DOCTORS DID NOT KNOW IF HE WOULD SURVIVE.

>> I KEPT LOOKING OUT THE GLASS TO THE ICU AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF DOCTORS, STATE OFFICIALS, THE INFECTION TEAM AND THEY ARE ALL LOOING AT ME.

AND I COULD SEE IT IN THEM AND I AM INTUBATED.

THE PRIEST CAME IN AND READ ME MY LAST RITES BECAUSE NO ONE WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS.

MICHELLE: HE SPENT THREE WEEKS FIGHTING DOUBLE AMMONIA AND COVID IN THE HOSPITAL.

ONCE HE WAS DISCHARGED, HE WAS MOTIVATED TO RETURN TO HIS ROUTINE.

HE WAS WORRIED IT WOULD TAKE SIX MONTHS OR MORE TO FULLY RECOVER.

>> I DID NOT WANT IT TO TAKE THAT LONG SO I JUST STARTED REALLY PUSHING MYSELF, YOU KNOW, TO EXERCISE.

MICHELLE: BUT SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL, HE STILL FOUND HIMSELF DEALING WITH LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE VIRUS.

HE HAD EXPERIENCED SHORTNESS OF BREATH FOR 10 TO 20 MINUTE INTERVALS AND HIS BLOOD OXYGEN LEVEL WAS FLUCTUATING.

SO MUCH SO HE REMEMBERS A HEALTH CARE WORKER TURNING PALE WHILE EXAMINING HIM.

MARK: MY OXYGEN LEVEL WAS 84.

WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

THAT IS WHAT HE EXPLAINED TO ME, HE WAS LIKE EURO TO LEVELS RIGHT NOW, YOU SHOULD BE IN THE ER.

YOU COULD BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

MICHELLE: HE WAS REFERRED TO A CARDIOLOGIST.

MARK: I DID A STRESS TEST.

AND ALL OF THOSE TESTS CAME BACK NORMAL.

AND MY HEART WAS 100% FINE.

MICHELLE: HOW DO DOCTORS EXPLAIN IT, WHAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND IT?

MARK: THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND THEY WOULD BE HONEST WITH ME.

THEY WOULD TELL ME WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION YOU ARE OUR FIRST PERSON THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY STUDYING.

NO ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT LONG COVID AT THAT TIME.

YOU KNOW, THAT CONVERSATION DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL MONTHS LATER.

MICHELLE: MORE THAN A MILLION AMERICANS COULD HAVE SYMPTOMS FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AFTER CONTRACTING THE VIRUS.

THEIR SYMPTOMS RUN THE GAMUT FROM SHORTNESS OF BREATH TO HEART PALPITATIONS, TO EXTREME FATIGUE.

SOON, DOCTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD BEGAN TO REALIZE MANY PATIENTS WERE REPORTING SYMPTOMS THAT WERE NOT GOING AWAY.

SO FOR A LOT OF US, WE THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC IS COMING TO AN END, BUT FOR MANY PATIENTS, THE PANDEMIC INDOORS ON IT THROUGH THIS PHENOMENON REALLY A DISEASE CALLED LONG COVID.

MICHELLE: DR. BEAUDOIN IS AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AND CHAIR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AT BROWN UNIVERSITY.

SHE AND OTHER RESEARCHERS AT THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ARE STUDYING THE IMPACT OF LONG COVID.

>> THERE ARE ESTIMATES THAT ANYWHERE FROM ONE AND 202I HAVE SEEN AS HIGH AS 30% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID-19 GO ON TO DEVELOP LONG COVID.

BUT REALLY WIDE ESTIMATES DEFENDING ON THE SOURCE.

MICHELLE: THAT WOULD MEAN TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE DEALING WITH LONG >> POTENTIALLY, AT THE HIGHER END.

IF WE ARE THINKING ABOUT 80 MILLION PLUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED AT THIS POINT.

IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT.

MICHELLE: LEON HE IS AMONG THE TOWNSPEOPLE SUFFERING FROM COVID.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU COULD GO IN ONE DAY BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING STOMACH PAINS AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU ARE WAKING UP A MONTH AND A HALF LATER AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE HAS CHANGED.

MICHELLE: SANTOS HAS BEEN DEALING WITH RECURRING SYMPTOMS SINCE SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID-19 IN APRIL OF 2021 SHE WAS FIVE MONTHS PREGNANT WHEN SHE WAS PLACED IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED, AT RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL.

WHEN SHE WOKE UP A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, SHE LEARNED SHE HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO HER DAUGHTER CHARLOTTE.

>> AND THEN I REMEMBER ASKING THEM AND I'M JUST LIKE -- I POINTED TOWARDS MY BELLY AND I'M LIKE HOW IS THE BABY?

AND THEY JUST SHOOK THEIR HEAD.

AND IN THAT MOMENT, I DID NOT HAVE A REACTION, BECAUSE I AM JUST LIKE PROCESSING.

SO THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SAVED.

MICHELLE: HER DAUGHTER LIVED FOR EIGHT DAYS AND PASSED AWAY WHILE SANTOS WAS STILL IN A COMA >> THE MAIN THING IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CHARLOTTE LIVED.

SHE WAS HERE.

IT IS HARD.

I WISH SHE WAS HERE, BUT SHE IS NOT, SO I'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON ME.

MICHELLE: ALONG WITH GRIEVING FOR THE LOSS OF HER CHILD, SANTOS CONTINUES TO HAVE COVID SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING A PERSISTENT COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, BRAIN FOG, ANXIETY, AND BODY ACHES.

>> YOU LOOK AT ME, YOU THINK OH, SHE IS FINE.

THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON.

AND IT IS LIKE LITTLE DO YOU KNOW, MY BACK IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW.

AND IT IS JUST REALLY HARD.

LATER ON I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET UP AND WALK AROUND AND TAKE CARE OF HOUSEHOLD DUTIES.

STANDING IN FRONT OF THE STOVE AND COOKING HURTS.

MICHELLE: HER FAMILY IS HER MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOING.

SHE TAKES HER FATHER TO DIALYSIS IN ADDITION TO WORKING TWO PART-TIME JOBS.

SANTOS SAYS SHE AND HER HUSBAND, WHO ALSO HAD COVID, DEPLETED THEIR SAVINGS WHILE THEY WERE SICK.

>> AND LOT OF STILL VERY TRAINED.

MICHELLE: THE LITTLE DRIVING SHE DOES DO IS TO GO TO WORK AND HELP HER FAMILY.

>> I WOULD JUST RATHER LIMIT MY SOCIAL CIRCLE AND WHO I AM AROUND BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO HAVE COVID ONCE AGAIN, CONSIDERING IT WAS SO SEVERE.

>> EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS CAN STILL DEVELOP LONG COVID.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE A SEEMINGLY VERY MILD CASE AND THEN GO ON TO DEVELOP SYMPTOMS THAT ARE DELAYED IN ONSET.

MICHELLE: LONG COVID QUALIFIES AS A DISABILITY UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, BUT THE DOCTOR SAYS SHE HAS FOUND THAT PATIENTS BECOME FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET A DIAGNOSIS, SINCE THERE IS NO FORMAL TEST TO CHECK IF THEY EVEN HAVE THE CONDITION.

AND WORSE.

>> I FEEL THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT BELIEVE THEM.

GAS LIT BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, THAT THEY ARE BEING MADE TO FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION FROM THE PANDEMIC OR YOU'RE CRAZY OR IT'S IN YOUR HEAD.

MICHELLE: SANTOS KNOWS IT IS NO IN HER HEAD.

SHE SPENT MONTHS IN REHAB, WORKING TO REGAIN HER STRENGTH.

ARE YOU HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY?

>> I AM VERY HOPEFUL.

I AM VERY HOPEFUL.

I DO NOT FEEL THAT I WANT TO LIVE IN THIS STATE FOREVER.

MICHELLE: AS FOR TEBOW, HE SAYS HIS LINGERING COVID 19 SYMPTOMS LAWS OF -- LASTED FOR 10 MONTHS BEFORE THEY WENT AWAY.

EVERY DAY, HE SAYS HE THINK ABOUT HOW GRATEFUL HE FEELS TO BE ALIVE.

>> USUALLY HAPPENS ON MY DRIVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING, WHEN IT IS QUIET IN THE SUN IS COMING UP AND I AM LOOKING AT THE HORIZON AND I SAY TO MYSELF I GET TO SEE ANOTHER SUNRISE.

I GET TO SEE ANOTHER GREEN FIELD AND BLUE SKY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

MICHELLE: SOME STUDIES SUGGEST VACCINES CAN REDUCE THE CHANCES OF GETTING LONG COVID.

MARK TEBOW AND SANTOS ARE VACCINATED NOW BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED SHOTS WHEN THEY FIRST CONTRACTED THE VIRUS.

DAVID: SANTOS STILL HAS A BODY PAIN, COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

SHE SAYS SHE IS WORKING PART-TIME AND TAKING CARE OF HER DAD, BUT SHE PASSED HER REAL ESTATE EXAM AND HOOKS TO BE LICENSED AND BECOME A REALTOR.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE A STORY ABOUT A FLAG.

NOT JUST ANY FLAG, THIS IS THE OLDEST KNOWN INTACT BANNER TO BE DISCOVERED IN AMERICA.

PRODUCER DIRECTOR JAMIE MCGUIRE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING THE PAINSTAKING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO VERIFY THE FLAG AND ITS HISTORY.

TONIGHT WE BRING YOU A PORTION OF THIS RHODE ISLAND PBS ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY, A STITCH IN TIME.

>> IN THE ANNEX TO THE TOWN HALL, KNOWN AS THE BURNSIDE MEMORIAL BUILDING, IN A CASE, THEY HAD A COLLECTION OF HISTORIC FLAGS THAT WERE WRAPPED AROUND THE ORIGINAL FLAGPOLE, COVERED IN PLASTIC AND STORED THERE FOR MANY DECADES.

WE ASSUME THAT THESE FLAGS WERE CIVIL WAR RELATED.

BURNSIDE AT ONE POINT WAS HEAD OF THE NINTH COURT OF THE UNION ARMY, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT SECTION OF THE UNION ARMY.

AND THE HEADQUARTERS FLAG FOR THAT UNIT WAS MISSING.

NO ONE KNOWS WHERE IT EXISTS TODAY, SO WE HAD TO HOPE THAT THIS WAS BURNSIDE'S HEADQUARTERS FLAG WHEN HE WAS COMMANDER OF THE NINTH CORPS OF THE UNION ARMY.

THAT WAS OUR HOPE GOING INTO THIS THING.

>> THERE IS A THREE PANE WINDOW , BEAUTIFUL LIGHT SHINING INTO THIS ROOM.

AND THIS CASE.

THEY CUSTOM-BUILT FOR THESE FLAGS TO BE PUT INTO.

I GUESS IN THE 1980'S, SOMETIME, SOMEONE HAD SEEN THE FLAGS THAT WERE JUST ON THEIR POLES, HANGING IN THIS CASE AND SAID OH, THOSE ARE FALLING APART, WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

SO WE WILL ROLL THEM OF AND HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL GIVE US MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TO DO.

SO I SAID IF WE ARE GOING TO UNROLL THESE FLAGS, WE SHOULD DO IT THE ONE TIME, THE LAST TIME.

IF WE ARE GOING TO CONSERVE THEM, IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND LOOK AT THEM AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ROLL SOMETHING AROUND A POLE AS IT GETS SED TO BEING IN THAT SHAPE.

IN ORDER TO COUNTERACT THAT, I DECIDED TO HUMIDIFIED THEM.

WE CREATED A HUMIDITY TENT TO PUT OVER THE FLAGS AND RAISE THE HUMIDITY OF THE FLAGS I THINK BETWEEN 50 AND 60%.

FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

>> I WAS INVITED BY PATRICK TO COME AND LOOK AT SOME FLAGS THAT WERE FROM BRISTOL.

IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING, THE POTENTIAL, WHAT COULD BE IN THAT PILE OF FLAGS.

ALWAYS HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THE UNANTICIPATED.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET INTO THESE THINGS, THE ARTIFACT IS GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT IT IS, SO ALL OF THE GUESSING AND SPECULATING WILL NOT PUT YOU ON TO WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE.

>> I REMEMBER GETTING UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC ON EACH ONE OF THESE AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL I GOT TO THE LAST ONE THAT I KIND OF HAD A MOMENT.

AND I REMEMBER PATRICK SAYING WHAT IS -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

AND I SAID IT IS NOT MADE OF SILK.

AND THEY SAID WHAT IS THAT MEAN?

AND I SAID THE SILK FABRIC.

IT IS OLDER THAN THESE OTHER FLAGS.

AND THEY'RE LIKE HOW MUCH OLDER?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> SO WE STARTED TO UNFURL THIS GOLD COLORED FLAG, THEY'RE ALL STANDING THERE WATCHING, AND WERE WAITING.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE EXPECTING A FLAG THAT THERE WILL BE SOMETHING EMBROIDERED ON IT OR PAINTED ON IT, SOME SORT OF% SYMBOL, WORDS.

>> IS THERE GOING TO BE A PICTURE IN THE MIDDLE, IS THERE GOING TO BE PAINTING.

IS THERE GOING TO BE AT CANTON.

>> THERE WAS NOTHING.

IT WAS JUST PLAIN GOLD COLORED.

I THINK WE ALL JUST STARED AT IT, NOT SAYING A WORD AND I FELT HONESTLY A LITTLE LET DOWN, BECAUSE I AM THINKING HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS IS.

IF THERE IS NOTHING ON IT, THERE MUST NOT BE ANYTHING IMPORTANT WAS KIND OF THE FEELING THAT I HAD.

>> PAINTED DESIGN OR SOMETHING ON THE OTHERS YOU CAN SEE IT.

THIS IS HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FLOWN.

>> KIND OF UNIQUE WITHOUT HAVING A UNIT, A NATION OR SOME SORT OF EMBLEM APPEARED BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS, THERE IS A PURPOSE.

I WAS EXPECTED TO SEE A CREST OR SOMETHING.

IDENTIFICATION ON THERE.

PAMELA: OUR THANKS TO JAMIE MCGUIRE PRETTY GOOD TO THE FULL DOCUMENTARY, A STITCH IN TIME, RIGHT HERE ON RHODE ISLAND PBS MONDAY NIGHT MAY 30 AT 7:30 P.M..

FINALLY TONIGHT, COMMENTATOR LILA ALFONSE OF THE BOSTON GLOBE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAGIC SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN TEXAS LAST TUESDAY.

LILA: 19 CHILDREN WERE KILLED ON MAY 23 IN A SHOOTING AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN TEXAS.

THE SHOOTER WHO HAD POSTED WARNINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING HE WAS GOING TO ATTACK A SCHOOL, SHOT HIS GRANDMOTHER IN THE FACE BEFORE DRIVING OVER TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ONCE INSIDE THE SCHOOL, HE LOCKED HIMSELF IN A FOURTH-GRADE CLASSROOM AND STARTED SHOOTING EVERYONE IN IT.

HE USED AN AR-15 STYLE SO AUTOMATIC WEARABLE -- RIFLE THAT HE PURCHASED AFTER HE TURNED 18 ON MAY 16.

HE PURCHASED TWO OF THEM WITHIN THREE DAYS, ALONG WITH 375 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.

PERSONALLY, I AM STRUCK BY MANY THINGS ABOUT THIS ATTACK.

I AM A MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER OF FIVE KIDS, SOME OF WHOM ARE ADULTS NOW.

I DO NOT WANT TO IMAGINE THE TURMOIL OF HIS PARENTS ARE IN, BUT I CANNOT HELP IT.

IT IS JUST THERE.

I AM STRUCK BY THE WAY TEACHERS ARE WATCHING THE NEWS, KNOWING THEY WOULD GIVE THEMSELVES UP TO SAVE THEIR STUDENTS THE WAY IRMA GARCIA AND EVA MORALES DID.

THEY PLAN FOR IT, HOPING THAT THEY NEVER HAVE TO, BUT KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE TO.

I AM STRUCK BY THE IMMEDIATE ANTI-IMMIGRANT RHETORIC POURING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

EVEN THOUGH THE SHOOTER WAS BORN IN NORTH DAKOTA AND THE CHILDREN HE KILLED ARE LIKELY U.S. CITIZENS.

I AM STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT THE MASSACRE AT SANDY HOOK WAS 10 YEARS AGO, WHICH MEANS THAT TODAY'S MONSTERS WENT THROUGH ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS IN SCHOOLS THEMSELVES, AS CHILDREN.

AND THEY KNOW HOW TO CIRCUMVENT THEM.

AND I AM STRUCK BY THOSE WHO THROW OUT RED HERRINGS, TALKING ABOUT POLITICS INSTEAD OF PEOPLE.

THOSE WHO PREFER TO BLEND MENTAL ILLNESS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR ABILITY TO BUY WEAPONS.

THOSE WHO LIKE THE MAYOR APPEAR MORE OUTRAGED ABOUT A NEWS CONFERENCE BEING INTERRUPTED THAN IF THEY ARE BY ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING.

ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST, THERE HAVE BEEN 3500 MASS SHOOTINGS SINCE SANDY HOOK IN 2012.

THERE HAVE BEEN GUN INCIDENTS AT 331 SCHOOLS SINCE COLUMBINE IN 1999.

THERE WERE 42 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN 2021 ALONE.

MORE THAN 34,000 500 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED IN SHOOTING INCIDENTS SINCE 2014.

WE ARE LONG PAST MEETING CHANGE.

AT THIS POINT, THOSE WHO SAY NOTHING CAN BE DONE ARE ACTIVELY CHOOSING TO DO NOTHING.

AND THOSE WHO PRIORITIZE GUN PURCHASES OVER CHILDREN'S LIVES ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY THINK DEAD CHILDREN ARE AN ACCEPTABLE PRICE TO PAY TO PRESERVE THEIR OWN FREEDOMS.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WILL NOT SAVE KIDS FROM BEING KID -- KILLED IN SCHOOL.

STRIPPING OR BANNING THIS CASE SALE OF AR-15 WIFE -- RIFLES WILL.

DAVID: OUR THANKS TO LILA ALFONSE.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

PAMELA: I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

GOOD NIGHT.

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