So Nick, how are you feeling? Our team at Comicbookchuck first became aware of your story via CBSN Minnesota. What struck me most about your interview was your assertion that this virus does not care about our politics. Do you care to elaborate on that?
Response:
The virus does not care if you wear a “Red” jersey or a “Blue” jersey. The virus impacts all of us and it is our collective responsibility to protect ourselves and take this threat seriously.
Q1: You served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 7 years before your resignation. Was there a specific moment when you felt the need to resign? Looking at today’s political landscape do you have any regrets about resigning at that time?
A1: I resigned following my 11th heart surgery. For me the decision to resign was much more related to spending quality time with my wife and 4 year old son while I continue to be blessed with good health. The role of a legislator is extremely time-consuming and can become all-encompassing. I stepped back in order to realign my priorities.
Q2: You have known illness for the majority of your life. You must be an incredibly tough person to endure the many heart surgeries you have endured. How has your underlying medical condition shaped your perception of the world and point of view on life?
A2: I was born with Tricuspid Atresia, basically without a right ventricle. My parents were told I wouldn’t live past 7 years old. I have had 11 heart surgeries, many of them experimental. Throughout my life I have been told six different times that I’ve had less than six months left to live.
As a result I really value relationships and wanting to experience as much life as you can squeeze out of each day.
Q3: During your CBSN appearance you mentioned your young son. What is it like being a parent during this chaotic time period in our country? What do you hope will happen in the near future that will improve your family’s quality of life?
A3: Jackson is 4. He spent the last month quarantined at the house with my wife and I. He was very excited to get back to Pre-school last week. The time we live in certainly seems turbulent, however, I know children are unbelievably resilient. My big hope is that over the course of the next nine months the vaccine is widely available and he is able to enter kindergarten in a setting that resembles when we all went to school.
Q4: This isn’t your first time being hospitalized. How has this time been different? In retrospect would you have changed any of the precautionary measures you were (or were not) taking leading up to contracting the virus?
A4: The most challenging part of this hospitalization was all of the Covid precautions. I am surprised at how hard it was to not be able to have visitors during the hospital stay. Every Time somebody entered my room they were gowned, gloved, masked, and wearing a hood with hoses hooked-up to it that made it look like a spacesuit. The lack of any basic human contact impacted me way more than I would have thought.
My family locked down very hard during the spring. Then as restrictions began being lifted we started to go out more and more. We always followed the different guidelines and recommendations. We wore masks in and out of restaurants, we kept our groups very small. I still do not know where we contracted the virus. I do know that the months of isolation this Spring were extremely difficult for me to handle. If I were to change one thing it would have been to take note of the increased infection rate in MN earlier and respond by staying in more.
Q5: Did you fear contracting the virus before falling ill? Is there an overall sentiment or attitude towards the virus in the area of Minnesota where you reside?
A5: I assumed the virus was going to be particularly hard on me considering my heart history. I think MN is like most states, there are groups of people that think pretty much nobody should leave the house, there are groups of people that think this is “fake” or “Hyped up” in some way, and there is everyone else that just want to find a way to work and live their lives.
My goal in speaking out was to reinforce that the virus is very real, it can hit people as bad as the doctors were saying, and that we need to come together to fight the virus and not each other. I hoped to convey a need for personal and community responsibility to keep ourselves and each other safe.
Q6: As you know, you were specifically chosen to be featured in our Heroes Unmasked segment because many would deem your actions heroic. Personally, I believe you are a hero because you spoke out on an issue that has been very controversial and politicized frankly for the better half of the year 2020.
Have your opinions towards the virus and the mitigation process changed or remained the same after contracting the virus? What made you take on the responsibility of being the voice of many Americans in the Midwest?
A6: The virus has been politicized and it never should have been. Quite frankly there are leaders on both sides of the aisle that capitalized on this to attack there political enemies at the expense of American’s trust. Certainly as the data and facts change in real time my beliefs have evolved, however, I was never in the “Virus denier” camp.
I didn’t set out to be a spokesperson around this issue. I originally posted on Facebook a post and some photos from the ICU as a bit of a wake up call to some of my Facebook “friends” that Covid was serious and definitely not “fake”. I have been contacted by many people after that post was shared so broadly, that thanked me for being so open. I also got TONS of not-so-nice messages from all across the country and all across the political spectrum.
Q7: Those that lean left or right can indisputably agree on one thing: we are a nation divided. Do you think that “flatten the curve” can be our rallying cry?
A7: I don’t know about “flatten the curve” because in MN that was used to institute the first lockdowns. “Two weeks to flatten the curve” turned into months of lockdowns and near economic ruin for so many. My hope is the idea of personal and community responsibility starts to resonate. If we don’t take care for and protect our family and neighbors who will?
Q8: Comicbookchuck.com focuses on all things nerdy/geeky. What is Nick Zerwas’s secret (or not so secret) nerdy interest?
A8: I don’t know if its nerdy but one thing I am very obsessive about is candy. I have a ridiculous sweet tooth. When I served in the MN House of Representatives I emptied my desk drawer on the floor of the House and filled it with candy. Soon it was the go to spot for members of both sides of the aisle during long debates. I would order candy from my childhood that isnt widely distributed and that was always fun because people would share stories of their favorite childhood candy or treats.
Q9: How do you plan on spending your time after recovering?
A9: Jackson is back in preschool my wife and I have returned back to work. (Which we do remotely from home). We are mainly just looking forward to things getting somewhat back to normal, and eventually with the vaccine things going back to the “good old days of 2019” LOL
Q10: Thank you so much for your transparency and for speaking out and being the voice of many Americans who may not have the opportunity to be heard. Is there any closing remarks you would like to leave our readers with?
A10: We just need to do a better job of taking care of ourselves and each other. Both in regards to the virus and some basic restoration of civility. When I see the amount of hate and negativity pouring out of people I wonder if the virus already “won”. It may not kill as many people as originally feared, but it sure is ripping us apart.
