Five years after the world came to a virtual standstill, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape many lives. The pandemic which changed the way we lived, loved, and lost, left an indelible mark on scores of families in South Africa and around the globe. In this episode, we give voice to South Africans who faced the virus head-on, those who battled for survival, lost loved ones, and are still navigating the healing process in 2025.