COVID-19 Nearly Took My Life, Redefined My Viewpoint on Risk and Gratitude
five years after a near-fatal battle with COVID-19, USA TODAY’s commentary editor Blake Fontenay reflects on a profound shift in his outlook on life, death, and the willingness to embrace risk in pursuit of what he believes is right. The experience, occurring shortly before thanksgiving in 2020, instilled a newfound appreciation for the fragility of life and a determination to live more purposefully.
The United States surpassed 375,000 COVID-19 deaths in 2020, a staggering loss that reshaped the nation’s understanding of public health and personal vulnerability. While the acute phase of the pandemic has passed, the long-term impacts – both physical and psychological - continue to resonate. Fontenay’s story offers a personal lens through which to examine the enduring legacy of COVID-19,particularly its influence on individual values and decision-making. It speaks to a broader societal reckoning with mortality and the re-evaluation of priorities that many experienced during the pandemic.
Before contracting the virus, Fontenay harbored a conventional hope for longevity, aiming to reach 100 years of age with a reasonable quality of life. However, his brush with death fundamentally altered that perspective. He now recognizes that life’s continuation is not guaranteed, even for a single day. This realization hasn’t led to recklessness; he maintains everyday caution.
Rather, the experience has fostered a willingness to pursue convictions, even when facing potential personal risk. “What’s changed is, if there’s a course of action that I believe is right ‒ and the stakes are high enough ‒ I’m not afraid to pursue that course of action, even if it will put my life at risk,” Fontenay explains.
He describes feeling as though he is “playing the game of life with house money,” a metaphor for a newfound freedom to act on principles without being paralyzed by fear. This shift in mindset, born from a harrowing experience five years ago, has become a guiding force in his life, shaping his approach to challenges and opportunities. For Fontenay, living fully now means embracing that principle, a gratitude forged in the face of mortality.
