The COVID long-hauler

On the lock screen of his phone, Prashanth had a photo of his five-month-old baby, whom he had just spent the entire afternoon with. He had just started his shift when he picked me up from ABC’s building on the Upper West Side and told me he was planning to work until 2 a.m. A first-time father, Prashanth makes sure he spends as much time with his son as he can. Fatherhood changed his life for the better, and he said it was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Before his son was born, Prashanth would spend hours planning his future alongside his wife. Now, he said, they spend most of the time dreaming about what future they want to provide for their son and the life they want him to live. He plans to soon leave his small apartment in the city for a more spacious place further away. Before he realizes it, his son will be all over the place, so he wants to make sure they have a comfortable house where his son can run around and enjoy his childhood.

After a trip to Florida in March 2020, Prashanth found out he was diagnosed with COVID-19. The pandemic had just started, and much was still unsure about the risks and the severity of the virus. His symptoms developed and shortly after he was diagnosed with pneumonia. With difficulty breathing, he desperately called 911 during two instances. The person on the other end of the call assured him he would be OK, and the best thing he could do at the time was to remain calm. He ended up not going to the hospital, but rather isolating at home with his wife — each in their own room. The phone call, he said, made him realize the severity of the virus and how deadly it truly was. The hospital described there was no space for him, and the people who would come in would leave as lifeless bodies.

Prashanth was among the group of people known as COVID long-haulers. The past two years were extremely difficult for him as he battled to recover from the harmful virus that flipped his world upside down. He used to be an active smoker, smoking narguilé on a regular basis. Everything changed after the pandemic, and Prashanth quickly found himself giving up one of his long-established habits in hopes of better health.

Prashanth's family means everything to him. Everything he does and plans are for the betterment of their wellbeing. He sees himself living long-term in the city, and hopes to provide the best life for his son.

What fathers do

The three children of Bazur mean everything in the world to him. He works seven days a week during rush hours in the morning when people are going to work and at night to take passengers back home. He avoids working in the middle of the day since it’s not as productive or lucrative. In the meantime, he enjoys his break to go to the gym to move his body and exercise as much as he can. Sitting for long hours, he said, is rough, so ensuring he remains active is vital to maintaining his well-being.

Bazur does not have any days off. The bills, he said, keep mounting up, and to cover the costs of his whole family, he said, requires sacrifices. The only vacation he takes is a few times a year when his kids travel the country to participate in judo competitions. Every now and then he also squeezes some time to help train his kids and teach them martial arts.

Originally from Georgia, a country located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, he moved to the U.S. nine years ago to provide a better future for his family. He left everything behind — family, personal belongings and everything he ever knew. Visiting his home country hasn’t been possible since the pandemic began in March 2020, but he hopes to return soon to visit the family he left behind. His 15-year-old daughter was very young when the family made the move, and the U.S. became her home and the place that shaped her tremendously.

The most challenging ride Bazur made was to Boston. He drove for over six hours to take a passenger from New York. While driving on the highway, minutes away from his destination, he received a notification from Uber saying to drop the passenger right away at the nearest location. Looking around, there was no way he could’ve made the stop because of high-speeding cars and the lack of space to drop off passengers. He later found out the passenger was using a fake account, leaving Bazur without pay. Uber later solved the issue, compensating Bazur for the ride. The pay, however, was not enough for the hours nor the trajectory to Boston.

Bazur was looking forward to getting back home after a long day on the road. He described being stuck in a never-ending work cycle, with the hours, days and weeks going by in the blink of an eye. He wakes up early to start working and gets back home late. Without even noticing it, a new day starts and he’s back on the road. Time goes by fast, he said, and sometimes he finds himself stuck in a never-ending work cycle. The motto “work ‘till you die” fits the lifestyle, he said. Despite the long hours, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to ensure his kids live the best life possible.

The essence of Burkina Faso

The way Moussa talked about his home country in West Africa would make anyone fall in love with it. Community, he said, is what holds Burkina Faso together, and consequently, made the country so united. As he drove over the chaotic streets of New York City, he told me about the warmth of every encounter, and that regardless if it was a good friend or a stranger, it had the power to make everything better.

In Burkina Faso, he said, no matter who you are or where you’re from, everyone is willing to help and come together for a common cause. Moussa moved to the U.S. four years ago for better opportunities. He lives a simple life in New Jersey, where he works for Uber in New York City. His work schedule is not based on hours, but rather on a goal that ensures he has a good work-life balance while paying his bills. Once he reaches his goal, he makes his way back home

With the same car that he makes a living with, he goes on solo trips across the U.S. He once drove 20 hours over a few days to Nebraska. He made a few stops in Wisconsin and Minnesota to see his friends, and then went on to his final destination. With a love for country music, he hopes to visit Tennessee during the summer to see firsthand the birthplace of one of his favorite music genres.

Moussa enjoys cooking homemade meals and reading the news after work to improve his English. I thought to myself he was being silly for thinking that his English wasn’t good enough, after all, we were having an hour-long conversation thanks to the NYC traffic. But he insisted he needed to get better, and it made me realize something. The key to mastering anything in life is the consistent exercise of the mind and the brain. That’s what Moussa makes sure to do every day. As soon as he turns his engine on, he drives to the nearest newspaper stand and grabs a copy of the latest issue available. Once he gets home, he prepares dinner and reads the biggest headlines from around the world while practicing his pronunciation.

His accent, however, had a beautiful story behind it. It shows the grit of someone who left his country and everything he knew behind in pursuit of a better life in the U.S. His baggage might have contained some piece of clothing and a few other personal belongings — most of which might have been material goods. The other luggage, however, had more weight than anything else. Moussa brought with him a piece of Burkina Faso, filled with the culture, values and customs he grew up with. He brought with him his story, and as he continues to write a new chapter in America, he shares the grip, determination and persistence of being an immigrant in the U.S.