Photography by Lori Wilson
THE WONG FAMILY
Ana, Mike, Cohen, Isla and dog, Bailey
BACKSTORY: Mike built his Kidd Springs house in 2006 and met Ana in 2007. They got married about a year later. She’s a neonatal intensive care unit nurse at Baylor Scott & White Health, and he works in supply chain management. Their portrait was shot in April, and it was their last photo with their dog, Bailey, who died two weeks later at age 13. They used it as their Christmas card because of that.
HOW IT STARTED: The family planned to spend a week in Mexico for spring break, but when the United States border closed, they made a road trip to the Texas Rio Grande Valley to visit her parents in her hometown, Rio Hondo. “Cohen was in second grade, so he was home, and my husband was at home working,” Ana says. “I was still going to work.” Isla went to child care at Cliff Temple. Homeschooling went terribly for them, Ana says. “I was not meant to be a teacher. Props to teachers,” she says. “I was meant to be a nurse.”
HOW IT’S GOING: Ana switched to days in October after 18 years as a nurse on the night shift. Mike was laid off in August, but he started a new job in November. “We’re super thankful and also thankful for my job,” she says. Ana says staying home was hard on her son, Cohen, who is outgoing and gregarious. When school restarted in the fall, she says he came home and said, “That was the best first day ever, mom! I love my teacher, and I love my friends.” He was jealous that his sister got to see her friends at daycare, and he had a big learning curve doing school entirely online. The kids got to spend two weeks in Rio Hondo over the summer, but they haven’t had visits from Ana’s parents, who normally fly up to visit frequently. “Cooking three meals a day, kids running around, you’re still working. I do all the housework,” she says. “It’s a lot. Sometimes I’m so glad to be going to work.”
THE FUTURE: “Who would’ve thought you’d be shopping for masks to coordinate your outfits?” Ana says. She has hope that things will get better soon, but she also has a front-row view of the health care reality. “I’m hoping we can go on a fun summer vacation this year and that we can see more friends.”
