GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — There's no question Thanksgiving for a lot of families looks very different this year. One West Michigan family booked it straight to Florida as soon as they were lifted from quarantine...figuring if they're only going to see each other, they may as well be by the beach.
“My husband, he started not feeling well towards the end of October.” Lauren Befus said.
It wasn't long until Lauren, her husband, and all four kids had COVID too. They've since recovered, but one thing for Lauren, hasn't.
“I haven’t been able to taste or smell for 22 days,” Befus said.
And this year is her first time attempting to cook a turkey.
“This is our first Thanksgiving, where we’re doing the whole meal. Normally we’re at my mother in-laws house,” Befus said.
And she has no way of knowing herself, if it actually worked out. Her kids and husband gave the meal two thumbs up.
“I’ve never cooked a turkey, and so..this year we thought, we know we’re not going to be with family and friends, we’re going to do our own thing…but it's not so fun when you can’t taste or smell,” Befus said.
Studies show loss of taste and smell from COVID is actually linked to depression and anxiety. But for the Befus family, Thanksgiving shows them, they're thankful for one thing most...that they have each other.
‘I’m just like trying to put things up to my nose and see if maybe I can get something, but it’s just..nope. so I’ve had to ask my husband for a lot of help, and my kids for a lot of help,” Befus said.
