I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta and this is coronavirus, fact, versus fiction.

As you now know, an astounding number of people have died of COVID-19.

And for every one of those people, there are also family and friends who have navigated

the hospital system, the rapidly changing information on this virus, and who are now grieving

their loss.

My colleague, Lu Folia, is unfortunately one of those people.

Lu lost his father to COVID-19.

And he recently wrote an essay for CNN about what it was like, just coping with the logistics,

the reality, the things that we don't often talk about, but certainly do arise when your

family member is in the hospital.

Lu was the one in charge of all the communication with doctors about his father's condition,

which meant he was also the one who had to figure out how then to relay that information

as tragic as it might be to his family and friends.

Lu's words are powerful, and they reflect the experience of so many people right now.

So today, I wanted to have Lu share his story.

I decided to write this piece in as much vivid detail as possible, even though they're

very painful memories for me, because COVID-19, I know, is a very new virus.

And people who have an experience that who haven't had a family member go through this

ordeal, I don't think appreciate the sort of roller coaster ride it is.

In the dark, it's like riding a roller coaster in the dark.

There's no game plan.

There's no protocol.

...