E80: A New Hope.

Show Notes

• Vaccine Appointments
• Johns Hopkins article on vaccine hesitancy
• Video on COVID Vaccines
• Texas Man Runs from Disneyland to Disneyworld

Questions for Reflection

In each episode, we offer you a few prompts to think about how that day's conversation applies to you. Our supporters over at Buy Me a Coffee now have exclusive access to the PDF versions of all our Questions for Reflection. Join us today! 
 
1.How do you feel about the COVID-19 vaccine?
2.Have you spent time researching and reflecting on whether you and/or your family will get the vaccine? Why or why not?
3.What can you do to understand people who feel differently about the vaccine than you do?
4.What gives you hope for the future?

Transcript

Beth Demme (00:03):
Welcome to the, Discovering Our Scars Podcast.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (00:05):
Where we have honest conversations about things that make us different. I'm Steph.
 
Beth Demme (00:08):
And I'm Beth.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (00:09):
I've been in recovery for 14 years and I am the author of, Discovering My Scars, my memoir about my mental health struggles, experiences, and faith.
 
Beth Demme (00:16):
I'm a lawyer turned pastor who's all about self-awareness and emotional health, because I know what it's like to have neither of those things.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (00:22):
Beth and I have been friends for years, have gone through a recovery program together, and when I wanted to start a podcast, she was the only name that came to mind as co-host.
 
Beth Demme (00:29):
I didn't hesitate to say yes, because I've learned a lot from honest conversations with Steph over the years.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (00:34):
We value honest conversations and we hope you do, too.
 
Beth Demme (00:37):
That's why we do this, and why we want you to be part of what we're discussing today. On today's show, we're going to have an honest conversation titled, "A New Hope."
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (00:46):
Then we'll share a slice of life, and the show will close with questions for reflection, where we invite you to reflect on the conversation in your own life.
 
Beth Demme (00:53):
So, A New Hope. Are we talking about Star Wars? Isn't that the name of a Star Wars movie?
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (00:57):
I know, when I thought of the title, I was like, "Why does that sound so catchy?" And I realized it was Star Wars. No, sorry. Spoiler,:this has nothing to do with Star Wars.
 
Beth Demme (01:06):
Right. That's all my Star Wars knowledge there, we're done.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (01:09):
I have more knowledge, but not enough for actually a whole episode of podcasting. And I don't know why we would.
 
Beth Demme (01:16):
No, and honestly--
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (01:17):
And should? No.
 
Beth Demme (01:18):
No.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (01:19):
No, no.
 
Beth Demme (01:20):
So plenty of Star Wars podcasts out there for anybody who's interested.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (01:24):
If you wanted a whole episode about Harry Potter, I am there. I can make that happen for you. Harry Potter is my Star Wars.
 
Beth Demme (01:30):
There you go.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (01:32):
So, A New Hope, is referring not to the Star Wars franchise, but to present day.
 
Beth Demme (01:42):
Present day, our new hope is, dun dun dun dun, vaccinations.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (01:47):
Vaccinations. So about a year ago, a little over a year now, we started podcasting once a week when we were in lockdown from a pandemic, pandemic COVID-19 lockdown and--
 
Beth Demme (02:06):
Because everything was changing. And so that's what we felt, it was interesting to be able to podcast once a week, because everything was changing. And now here we are a year later.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (02:17):
And I will tell you, I have not had any desire or ability to listen to those episodes in that whole year. I listened to the episodes when we said them, right--
 
Beth Demme (02:29):
And when you edited them--
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (02:29):
And when I edited them, but I had not listened to them since, because I was like, "That was a really trying time. And I don't think I want to go back there." But a few weeks ago we were planning an episode and I got a phone call from my doctor and they said, "We have the COVID-19 vaccine, would you like to get it?" And I was like, "Yes, yes, sign me up." And they said, "How about tomorrow at noon?" I said, "Yes, I'll be there." And so I was just very, very excited, and I didn't realize how much that was going to bring me hope, hope for the future.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (03:06):
And it was in just that simple phone call that I just felt this wave of hope that I hadn't felt in over a year. And in fact, after I got that call, I had the desire to listen to our pandemic episodes again.
 
Beth Demme (03:23):
Oh. Interesting.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (03:23):
Which was interesting. And it was so interesting. I listened to, I think, the second one, I haven't listened to all of them, but it was interesting to just hear what we talked about, and how much we talked about like cleaning our hands and touching our face, which is still a thing, but it's not as heightened as it was back then. And remember when we weren't supposed to touch packages--
 
Beth Demme (03:42):
Right, or they had to sit for a day.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (03:44):
Yes, there's so many things that, and you were talking about, when the pandemic is over, how you're going to handle your kids wanting to be around their friends, just all these things that we're now at a different space with. It was just so interesting to hear. And I definitely want to listen to all those episodes again, because it's like a time capsule, but I can listen to them now because I do have hope. And for me, and this is for me, there was so much hope in the prospect of me getting the vaccine.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (04:17):
So, my mom got the vaccine back in January. She was able to get it right when they came out because she is at high risk. And that was very hopeful. It was more of a relief and a comfort to know that she was more protected, and if she was to get the virus, that it wouldn't be as detrimental as it could have been before. But when I was able to get it, there was just this hope that I hadn't felt in so long. And it was basically like, once I'm fully vaccinated, I can maybe go back to Starbucks and I can be around friends again, that are vaccinated. I could be around my niblings without my mask on. Maybe one day I can eat in a restaurant again. It was simple things, but things that I used to enjoy that I haven't been able to enjoy in over a year. And it was realizing that I could have some of those things that I used to enjoy and cherish, those things can come back. And that was the hope that I was seeing with that simple needle.
 
Beth Demme (05:23):
I was surprised when I was able to get vaccinated in February, because I'm working in a hospital. And then shortly after that, my husband was able to get vaccinated. And then just this week, actually, that we're recording, my 16-year-old was able to get her first dose. And it's amazing to me, not amazing, but surprising, each time that has happened, the amount of relief that I have felt. And it is a signal to me of how much emotional baggage has come with this pandemic without me even realizing it, right. I didn't realize it until it was gone, or maybe just that I've carried it so long, I got used to carrying it. And then all of a sudden I didn't have to carry it anymore. I was like, "Oh, that's much better. That's much better." So I am really hopeful about vaccine distribution and about what that will mean for us.
 
Beth Demme (06:15):
I do think one aspect of this, that I'm just beginning to think about is, how privilege impacts this, right? So, privileged in terms, of we happen to live in a community where there's plenty of vaccine available and appointments are pretty easy to get. We'll put a couple of links in show notes to how you can find vaccine appointments that are available near you, because there are a couple of really good websites, not just for Florida, but that work everywhere. So not only is our community, I think, ahead in terms of vaccination, but our country is, right? So I think that there are a lot of people in other countries who would really like to have access to the vaccine that don't have it yet, but I'm so hopeful that it's coming, right. It's got to start somewhere. And so hopefully this will be a wave that continues to roll out, and more and more people will be able to get access to the vaccine.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (07:08):
Yeah. I realize just how simple it was for me to get a vaccine. I will mention, a couple of months ago I emailed my doctor. I have an online portal, and I emailed her asking just when she thought younger people would be able to get the vaccine. And she said, she didn't know, but she could put me on a list. So I'm assuming that's why I got a phone call from my doctor. I don't think they're just calling people up randomly. And I think they had just gotten the vaccine, and I happened to be on that list for when it was open to all ages. And so I think that's how it happened, but it was so simple. I just went in, I had my own room, they stuck the needle in, I sat there 15 minutes in the room by myself, done.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (07:49):
It was amazing. So I do recognize how privileged and how much of an honor it was to not have to really do anything. I just made one email to my doctor, but I would, if you're looking for the vaccine, start with your doctor's office, number one. I didn't even know if my doctor would get it, I literally was just asking the question, but your doctor offices, and that might be even a quicker way of getting it, if they're getting a certain amount for their patients.
 
Beth Demme (08:18):
Well, I took my daughter yesterday to a drive-up clinic where we had an appointment. I don't know how many people were in line. I think it might've been the first day that, in our community, 16 and 17 year olds could get it, because anyone who has a 16 or 17 year old, they put a purple piece of paper on your windshield, so that as you are going through to actually get the vaccine, they would know.
 
Beth Demme (08:39):
And there were a lot of pieces of purple paper, but there were a lot of people in line. There were probably a few hundred people going through at this drive-through clinic site, and it was so easy. You go in, you just drive up, they tell you everybody's got on masks and everything, and you have to say who you are, and they confirm that you have an appointment, and then you sign the consent form and then they walk up to your car, they give you the shot. And then you drive over to an observation area where you wait for 15 minutes in case something pops up, and then you're free to leave. But they just couldn't have made it any easier. Really. We didn't even have to get out of the car. They just couldn't have made it any easier.
 
Beth Demme (09:16):
And I was so hopeful in seeing so many people there. I have met a few people, a few adults, who have been hesitant about getting the vaccine. And I understand that. I'm trying to understand that.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (09:33):
Well, I will say, I have actually met people that are definitely questioning getting the vaccine. And I will say I was one of them, especially when it came around so fast, there's so many questions, what does this do? How does it work? And I didn't really have to put much thought into it, because it wasn't available to me yet. So, and my mom and dad actually got it way before me. So I'm like, "Well, if these two could get it and be fine, that's probably a good sign for me," but I will say I did research it, because knowledge is power. And I think that was part of it, is you hear these stories, you hear people talk about it, you hear this and that, but it's empowering to do the research yourself, and to find out what's in these vaccines, and stop listening to the noise of the social media and stuff like that.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (10:26):
And I actually had a friend that said they only wanted Johnson and Johnson. They only wanted it because the Johnson and Johnson is just like the flu shot. And so it has years of research on doing a vaccine. And in that moment, I just was shocked by this conversation. And I didn't have the knowledge to say, "Well, no, no, no, actually it's not at all like the flu vaccine," but I did some research. I actually found a very good video clip that explains the different vaccines. In fact, all of the vaccines are using new technology, and they are not using the same technique that the flu vaccine is. The flu vaccine uses a dead virus, and that is not what these are using. They are both, or all of them, are using new technology, because of how far we've progressed. We are living in the future. When you look at our vaccines, and how they are able to do it so quickly, is based on years and years and years of research and vaccine studies and all of that.
 
Beth Demme (11:28):
It's new to us, but it's not new to the scientists who have been working in this field.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (11:33):
Exactly. And when you really look into that and learn about it, it makes sense, and all the vaccines are approaching it a little differently, but still the same concept. And I can send you a link to put in the show notes of this video clip, because that was really helpful for me to see that and to understand that. And I can't say that I know every single thing that is in it, and that I love that chemicals are being put into me, but I can tell you that this is an unprecedented event. And also, I think this has shown us that we are very susceptible to viruses, and on a global scale. And so when you look at the history of just different infectious diseases, and how much they have been knocked out by vaccinations, and how important vaccinations are for me, there's no denying that this is something that I in fact was going to get. I don't love having to put chemicals in my body, but look at the foods we eat. If you've eaten at McDonald's, you've probably had some worse things than this. And I sure have.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (12:48):
So for me, there just was no denying that this is something that I, with my medical history, there was nothing that was of concern. For my mom, she has some high risk factors, and there were some concerns, but for all of her concerns, it outweighed that this was so important to get this. But it is a personal choice. Everyone has to make that choice, we do live in a country where we're not forced to make those choices, and we get to have that choice. But I really hope everyone takes the time to research it, to talk to their doctor about it, and to make that choice, and not just to sit and just say, "Oh, I'm not getting it," but really examine, what are your concerns about it? And try to get answers for those.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (13:36):
I do know somebody that has an autoimmune disease, and they did talk to their doctor about it and their doctor's like, "We really don't know how this might affect it," and that's legit, and I'm not going to tell someone, "Well, go get it." That's something you have to decide for yourself, and I understand that. And for me, that's why I had to get the vaccine, because there's so many people out there with those questions and those concerns, which are super valid. And I'm not going to tell you, "Go get the vaccine." I'm going to tell you your research and to talk to your doctor, but that's why all of us that don't have those concerns in our history, get it. Get it as quick as we can, is my thought. I think it's important not to just dismiss people that are questioning the vaccine because I think it's important to question it. I think it's important to not just take something that we don't know what it is.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (14:34):
I do think that's important, but I think it's important when our friends say that to us, to not just dismiss them. I had a friend just the other day that I was talking about getting the vaccine and she was like, "Yeah." And I was like, "What do you mean?" And I was like, "Are you an anti-vaxxer?" And I said it like that. And then I realized, "Oh, wait a minute. I just shut down the conversation." And I was like, "No, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean that like, elaborate on that." And so we did have a conversation about some of her concerns, and if we shut down our friends in that conversation, then we're not helping anyone and we're not doing our part to be a friend to those people.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (15:15):
And that's with anything, vaccines, anything. If it's something that we don't agree with, that doesn't mean that, I think my natural reaction, if someone says something I don't agree with is to just be like, "[Abagh 00:00:15:26]," which, that's a word, right. But I'm really trying to be aware of those feelings and to not dismiss people, because I think if anything has shown us in the last few years, we've got to come together, and not just dismiss people that are different from us.
 
Beth Demme (15:47):
Yeah. I totally respect if someone has an underlying medical issue, or they have some concerns about the vaccine and they have researched it, and decided that, for them, this is not the right time or the right vaccine. What I have a harder time with is people who just have this knee jerk reaction that says, "Well, all of you liberals think we should be vaccinated, and I'm not letting the government do that to me." I have a harder time with that concept. I don't know that many people who are hesitant to get the vaccine. I do have a friend who has some pretty serious underlying medical issues, and so she and her doctors, like the friend that you mentioned are in consultation about it.
 
Beth Demme (16:28):
And I appreciate that the doctors are approaching it with humility, to say, "There are things we don't know. This is why I would maybe lean towards you getting the vaccine." But ultimately, and as you say, that makes it, I think, more incumbent on those of us who don't have those hesitations, those medical reasons why maybe this would be a question mark, to just get it, because that's what it's going to take for us to knock out this virus. And for us to end this pandemic.
 
Beth Demme (16:56):
There are also some reports of, and I've run into this just a little bit at the hospital, some reports about people of color being hesitant to get the vaccine. And I was reading on Johns Hopkins website, which I'll put a link to, and they were acknowledging that, in vaccine hesitancy. So I'll read you this one quote, they said, "Incidents of the medical establishment endangering the health, or betraying the trust, of black patients and research participants, have complicated the relationship between the medical establishment and these communities." And I think that that's fair, right? To look back at history and go, "Well, the medical community has mistreated black people, has used them as research subjects against their consent, or without their consent, in ways that raises a question mark there. So Johns Hopkins is saying, this is a different situation and we would encourage people of color to be vaccinated, but I'll put a link to that in case it would be helpful to anyone.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (17:54):
Well, and you can say that this is a different situation, so they shouldn't be concerned, but as somebody that has trauma in my past, you can tell me all day long that, "This is different, so get over it." But you have no idea, unless you've experienced my life, you have no idea what that trauma feels like. I had a situation where I was sent to a mental hospital without fully knowing where I was going. And it really, I didn't see medical professionals for years and years and years after that, because of how much I was traumatized from that.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (18:37):
And it was about maybe six or seven years later, I had this weird shaking experience, and my parents were there, and they didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what was going on, it was really scary. And so I think one of my parents was like, "Well, let's take you to the ER." And so, right when they said that, I just started crying and shaking, and I didn't know, even more shaking, because I was already shaking, and I didn't realize I was having panic attack. And I was having panic attack because it brought me right back to when I was forced, taken to the hospital without knowing what was happening. And I was with my parents this time. This was years later, but still I was panicked about going. And I did in fact go to the ER, I was able to get myself through the panic attack, but and by the way, the shaking stopped, and I was never seen at the ER. So, that's the story on that. But--
 
Beth Demme (19:38):
But you had a trauma response.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (19:40):
That's what I'm saying, is this was years and years later, that I still had a response to this. So to just dismiss people's concerns, of the history of black patients in this country, we have to do more than just say, "Well, this is different." I don't have the answers of how we do that. But I do think it's very important to, if you have a friend that expresses those kind of concerns, just talking through with them, is validating that this is a horrible truth from our past, and is being there for them and helping them through that, because that's trauma that we've never experienced ourselves.
 
Beth Demme (20:23):
One thing that helped, at the hospital at least, was I'm thinking in particular about three women of color who told me that they really didn't want to get the vaccine. They waited, and got the vaccine maybe four weeks after the rest of the hospital employees, so that they could see for themselves, "Okay, this is going to be okay. Lots of different people and different kinds of people are getting this vaccine, and it seems to be okay, I feel comfortable with it now and I'll do it." And I thought that that was smart on their part, to wait until they were really comfortable, but also that they approached it with a somewhat open mind, so that they could see that it was okay. I thought that was really valid. And if anybody had pushed them into, "You must be in this first set to get the vaccine," I think that would have been a real mistake.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (21:17):
I also think it would be really helpful if the person administering the vaccine even talked through more than they would, there was no talking through my vaccine, which I didn't either, I didn't have those concerns, but I never even saw the vial, the medicine was already in the syringe, but I could even see a comfort being, watching them take it out of the labeled thing, taking it out, so they know this is the vaccine. Just all of those little things, I think, would help ease people's minds that are having those concerns.
 
Beth Demme (22:02):
It's like you say, knowledge is power.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (22:03):
Exactly. You walk them through it.
 
Beth Demme (22:04):
In whatever ways we can acquire or share knowledge. It's a good thing.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (22:07):
Yeah. I hope those things are happening. I'm hoping that that's a way that the government can help acknowledge the past, and help people move into this new world we're in.
 
Beth Demme (22:21):
I remember listening to news reports early on in the pandemic, or maybe, April, May, June, in there somewhere, the person who does health reporting for the New York Times, he was reporting on how long it generally takes to get a vaccine, right? And that the fastest it had ever happened before was four years. And so I remember thinking, "Wow, four years, we don't have the patience to live like this for four years. I don't have the patients to live like this for four years. What will that mean?" And that's part of, I think what's feeding into my sense of hope right now, is it didn't take four years, right? Within a year, we were able to start vaccinating people, and maybe we'll all have to have boosters. Maybe this won't last that long, but right now I have hope that as more people get vaccinated, fewer people will get sick. Fewer people will die, fewer people will have those long-term complications. And that gives me hope.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (23:21):
And I think the whole thing about, this is a choice, which is what we love about our country, and sometimes get frustrated about our country--
 
Beth Demme (23:29):
Right, good point.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (23:30):
Maybe too much choice in some situations. But because there is choice, and this is not forced upon us, and because everyone is different. You can't just say, "Okay, you guys, we're all getting the vaccine. You're not going to have any complications." That's why people are hesitant. But I think that's also why we have to continue to wear a mask, as much as we don't want to. That's why, even with us being vaccinated, there are many people that still have these concerns, that aren't ready to be vaccinated, for very valid reasons. Some maybe not valid reasons.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (24:01):
I guess that's what surprised me though, is from watching the news, you see people that are just ignorant, not wanting the vaccine, but the more I hear friends and people that I know, people that I respect, haven't had valid reasons for not getting the vaccine yet, that surprised me, I guess. I was always thinking the people that weren't in the vaccine were just uneducated--
 
Beth Demme (24:21):
Just a knee jerk reaction, they were having.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (24:23):
Exactly. But there are very, very valid reasons, that once you hear someone's story, there's no denying that. Like, "Oh, yeah, that would make me pause as well." So that's why I think we can't just dismiss somebody, and we can't just assume they're an anti-vaxxer. And in my mind, an anti-vaxxer as somebody that--
 
Beth Demme (24:39):
Well, I think of someone who would be anti-vaccination as being anti-science.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (24:43):
Yeah. I think a lot of that comes from a few years ago, I think you even mentioned, when you had young kids, there was this whole push for no vaccinations. And you even asked your doctor, you even questioned it and said, "Is this something I should be concerned about?"
 
Beth Demme (24:56):
Yeah. When my kids, especially when my son, because he's my oldest, when it was time for him to get some of his vaccinations, when he was two, there was a lot of controversy in the news about a potential link between vaccinations and autism, which has not played out. It's turned out that there's no link there, that's not true, but it was enough to make me pause, right. It was enough to make me ask my doctor more questions, it was enough to make me do more research. I think that there are concerns like that, that do stop some people from choosing to vaccinate their children. And that's why I come back to, I don't have those hesitations, and so I have almost this duty to go through with it, because it reduces the risk that the unvaccinated folks will be exposed to the contagion.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (25:47):
Yeah. And I saw a news article that was like, how do we get people vaccinated? And one of them was talking about, what's your reason for being vaccinated, finding out what people's reason. And it was interesting because yeah, my reason was I wanted to protect myself and others. That was my reason, is I didn't want to be part of spreading something that could potentially kill someone, could potentially have caused them to have symptoms for the rest of her life. I didn't want to be part of that. And that's why I got vaccinated. So, Beth, what's your why?
 
Beth Demme (26:27):
There are things that I miss doing, and I'm hoping, well, I've been fully vaccinated now for more than a month, almost six weeks. And so there are things that I'm starting to do now. I've eaten inside a restaurant a couple of times.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (26:42):
Wait, you did not tell me that.
 
Beth Demme (26:43):
Yeah, I did.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (26:44):
What restaurant? McDonald's?
 
Beth Demme (26:47):
No, I ate inside Ted's, and I ate inside El Jalisco, but that was my why for getting the vaccine, was there were some things that I was really missing. Being around other people, being in person for church, which I haven't tried yet, but will, eating inside restaurants, and not wanting to transmit the virus to anyone. That's why I still wear a mask, like you said.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (27:12):
And I forgot, one of my major reasons of wanting the vaccine, besides not spreading the virus, was I want to go back to Disney World and go in indoor rides, because we've gone to Disney twice, but we just walked around, we didn't do any indoor rides. And that's what I've been wanting to do, is indoor rides, which Disney, like I've said, you say, "Disney," and you say, "Virus," and you're like, those don't go together, but they have been doing a really good job. And they do inside. They do have plexiglass queues set up and stuff, but I hadn't been comfortable with doing that yet, because it didn't feel responsible to be inside during the pandemic, but with the vaccine I feel like I'm protected and protecting other people, and I'll have my mask on, obviously. So yeah, that was another reason.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (28:04):
So I think the fact that I want to go to Disney is a big reason, means that your reason doesn't have to be anything oh so special, it can be selfish. And I don't even think that's selfish. It can be whatever--
 
Beth Demme (28:18):
But it could be. You could have a selfish reason. That's okay.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (28:20):
Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that. Yeah. I don't think we even need to say that me wanting to go to Disney as a selfish reason for getting the vaccine. No. I think, whatever your reason, like find your reason for researching, find your reason for getting it, find your reason for whatever, and write it down, plaster it up. And once you're fully vaxxed, take it down and do your thing.
 
Beth Demme (28:47):
Well, we do have a ton of fun making this podcast and we've heard from some folks that they wonder how they can support us. By the way, we're so thankful for everybody who has gone to our, buy me a coffee, our BMAC page, to buy me a cup of coffee, or Steph a cup of tea. We actually have been saving that support so that we can actually enjoy it when we're both vaccinated.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (29:12):
Yes, it's going to be awesome.
 
Beth Demme (29:13):
So we're looking forward to it. It's coming, the day is coming. But if you haven't had a chance to do that yet, do it today, go over to buy me a coffee and become a monthly supporter, or just do a one-time thing, whatever you want to do. And that'll give you access to the PDFs of the questions for reflection, that you could print out and use in your journal. We also put pictures there, and outtakes, polls, all sorts of stuff.
 
Beth Demme (29:39):
Well, speaking of BMAC, we actually a voicemail this week from someone who is not only a former guest, but also a BMAC supporter. Lori gave us a call to talk about something she heard in a recent episode, so let's hear that.
Lori K. (29:52):
Hey, Steph and Beth, it's Lori [Keller 00:29:54]--
 
Beth Demme (29:54):
Hey, Lori.
Lori K. (29:55):
.. from Tallahassee, and I just finished listening to the episode, What's in a Name? I did not keep my maiden name as my middle name when I got married the first time, I took my first husband's last name as my last name. After he passed away and I remarried, I chose to use my first husband's last name as my middle name.
 
Beth Demme (30:30):
Interesting.
Lori K. (30:30):
So now I'm Lori Simpson Keller for that reason, partly to honor my first husband and also to honor my son who, from my first marriage, has my late husband's last name as well. And actually, it feels like it fits. But names have power, I think, as you said in your episode, and I just could not let go of the Simpson name. Thanks. Love your podcasts. Bye.
 
Beth Demme (31:05):
That's so interesting. I never knew that Simpson wasn't her maiden name.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (31:08):
I didn't know that either.
 
Beth Demme (31:10):
I knew that she had been widowed, but I guess I had never made that connection. So thanks for telling us that, Lori, that was really interesting.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (31:16):
Yeah, that was so interesting. I had no idea either. We've known Lori for years and did not know that. That is so cool. And I love the reasoning, too. That's her son's last name, right? And so they still have that connection.
 
Beth Demme (31:28):
Yeah, and even better that it fits her. So she has a name that she feels fits her well, which I think is amazing. Wonderful.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (31:36):
Now I'm wondering what her original middle name was.
 
Beth Demme (31:39):
Right, or what her original maiden name was.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (31:41):
There's suddenly so many questions.
 
Beth Demme (31:41):
There's so much we don't know about you, Lori. We need you to call back.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (31:44):
Lori, once you're vax... I think, I don't know. I think she is vaccinated.
 
Beth Demme (31:48):
I don't know.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (31:48):
We all need to get together and have a vaccinated coffee hangout.
 
Beth Demme (31:53):
Well, if you want to give us a call and leave us a voicemail, you can do that by calling (850) 270-3308. We always like to hear your feedback.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (32:02):
So, Beth, do you have any weird news for me?
 
Beth Demme (32:05):
Well, I do have one and actually it's Disney-related. So I feel like this is the new hope you have, that after vaccination you'll be able to go to Disney. Well, the pandemic actually interfered with this person's Disney plans, too. He's a man from Texas and he had planned to run from Disneyland in California, all the way to Walt Disney World here in Florida, a total of 2,761 miles. And he's doing it to raise awareness about type one diabetes, which is something we've talked about on the show.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (32:34):
Yep.
 
Beth Demme (32:34):
So a way to, he wants to bring attention--
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (32:36):
Is it Daniel?
 
Beth Demme (32:36):
It's not Daniel.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (32:37):
Oh, okay.
 
Beth Demme (32:38):
He was supposed to do this in February 2020, but couldn't do it because of the pandemic, but now he has taken all of this time of the pandemic. He was going to get it done in 90 days, but now he's spread it out and he actually has completed his run, now. And so good for you, Don, way to go.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (32:56):
When did he start?
 
Beth Demme (32:57):
Well, it says he has done it in increments. He spread it out over the course of the 14 months, but he arrived at Disney World about five days ago. So he finally did it.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (33:07):
Did he go on rides and stuff?
 
Beth Demme (33:09):
It doesn't say.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (33:10):
Did he go?
 
Beth Demme (33:10):
He was greeted by a crowd of supporters, including Disney World employees when he arrived at the park.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (33:15):
Okay. So there is some kind of, Disney was aware of this.
 
Beth Demme (33:19):
Yeah. Disney was excited to have him.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (33:20):
Okay. Nice. Well, very good. I like that. That's related to Disney, the podcast episode, which we'll put a link to in the show notes, and it's weird.
 
Beth Demme (33:29):
Yeah. And pandemic, which is what we're talking about. So--
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (33:33):
Perfect.
 
Beth Demme (33:34):
Man, I'm good.
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (33:38):
At the end of each episode, we end with questions for reflection. These are questions based on today's show that Beth will read and leave a little pause between for you to pause the podcast, answer it to yourself. Or you can find a PDF of the questions on our, Buy me a Coffee, page.
 
Beth Demme (33:51):
Number one. How do you feel about the COVID-19 vaccine? Number two. Have you spent time researching and reflecting on whether you and/or your family will get the vaccine? Why or why not? Number three. What can you do to understand people who feel differently about the vaccine than you do? And number four, what gives you hope for the future?
 
Stephanie Kostopoulos (34:17):
This has been the, Discovering Our Scars Podcast. Thank you for joining us.