Sam Norpel and her family. Norpel, 48, second from the right, got Covid-19 in December 2021 and hasn’t recovered. This chronic illness, known as long Covid, impacts up to 23 million Americans.Kirstie DonohueSam Norpel used to present regular financial updates to C-suite executives.Now, unpredictable bouts of broken, staccato speech make that impossible for the former e-commerce executive.Despite being up to date with vaccines and boosters, Norpel, 48, got Covid-19 in December 2021, when the highly transmissible omicron variant was fueling record U.S. caseloads.She never got better — and in fact, feels worse, with a range of debilitating symptoms that make it impossible to work.More from Your Health, Your MoneyHere’s a look at more stories on the complexities and implications of long Covid:Her halting speech can be triggered by something as innocuous as cold water or cool air on the skin. Extreme noise sensitivity requires her to wear noise-canceling headphones all day. She’s also endured a low-grade migraine for nearly …
