Holy Week has long been my favorite time of year and is an especially active time of worship at my beloved St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. This year, however, while Holy Week has lost none of its religious significance, I’ve greatly missed the fellowship that it usually entails as we all adhere to the social distancing guidelines and recent “Home or Work” order issued by the Governor. Although the order does not prohibit South Carolinians from attending religious services, many churches, like St. Martin’s, have moved their services online for the safety of the congregation. I agree that this adaptation is in the best interest of the population, but it certainly has made the observance of Holy Week in 2020 even more sobering than usual. Likewise, I suspect that Sunday will be the most unusual Easter celebration modern Christianity has ever seen.

Nevertheless, Sunday is still Easter, and for those who follow the way of the cross, the meaning of this day remains the same. For me, this year’s Holy Week and Easter celebration will perhaps be even more significant and life-changing than they’ve been in years past. Though I don’t try to force my religious views on others, I’ve always been very open about them, and the self-isolating and social distancing, in one respect, has provided me an opportunity to spend more time reflecting on my faith. Theoretically, we as Christians are supposed to live our lives following in the steps of Jesus Christ, and while I can’t speak for others, I, for one, fail miserably at this every single day. Still, I strive each day to be a better man than the day before, and I do believe that, through God’s grace, others can see glimpses of His light in me. And on Sunday, I will rejoice in the resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and know that even though I’m far from perfect, he has gifted me salvation and eternal life. How blessed I am live to celebrate another Easter Sunday!

Have a great Easter holiday, and remember that, even if you must celebrate this year in isolation, you will not be alone, for He will be with you!

Suffice it to say, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated small businesses across America, and as a small business owner myself, I count every day that my doors remain open as a blessing. But the tragic reality is that I’m among the lucky few, and so I want to devote this week’s KellyGram to a brief discussion about relief that may be available to business owners struggling to stay afloat in this strange time of social distancing and isolation.

Many small business owners, when purchasing insurance coverage for their company, opt for a policy that includes business interruption insurance. This form of coverages provides protection to businesses that have suffered revenue losses as the result of a covered disaster or peril. Although the availability of business interruption benefits is, of course, dependent upon the terms of a business’s individual policy, I strongly encourage my fellow small business owners to review their insurance contracts to determine whether they may qualify for this relief.

That said, there is a growing discussion that business interruption claims relating to the COVID-19 pandemic are being largely denied by insurance companies, and in some instances, those denials are improper under the terms of the respective insurance policy. I cannot recommend enough that business owners who’ve been denied business interruption coverage during this time of crisis consult a lawyer to review their policy and vigorously challenge the denial if possible. Mike Kelly Law Group’s litigation team is well-versed in handling bad-faith insurance denials and will review your claim at no charge. Just give us a call at (803) 726-0123. Times are tough, but as ever, we’re here for the people (and businesses!) of South Carolina.

As I’ve done many times since the birth of the KellyGram, I must once again give a shout-out to my beloved church, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal, for its outstanding leadership and commitment to its members. For people of many religious backgrounds, traditional worship has been turned upside-down by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s in these times of crisis that we lean most heavily on our faith. Fortunately, the staff and clergy of St. Martin’s have done an exceptional job responding and adapting to the limitations that social distancing has imposed on the congregation, and with the help of technology, they continue to share the Good News.

For starters, the newest addition to our clergy, the Rev. Deacon Caitlyn Darnell, was ordained last Thursday as our transitional deacon; in order to allow the congregation to join in her ceremony safely, St. Martin’s live-streamed the ordination on Facebook. Sunday worship services are also streaming live each week and being posted to the church’s Youtube channel. They’re sharing daily devotionals online and have added a new web feature—Grace Notes—where members can share moments of goodness and gratitude in the midst of this nightmarish pandemic. One of my favorite, recent posts is this meditation Caitlyn conducts on Psalm 23. I applaud the efforts of St. Martin’s to stay devoted to its mission and keep the faith alive and strong in its congregation during these unusual times, and I look forward to what message my church has to send each day. Right now, we must find respite where we can, and for me, I’ve found it in St. Martin’s. I hope each and every one of you find yours, too.

I originally planned to write this week’s KellyGram about my law partner, Lisa Cotten, who is scheduled to receive an award tonight for her outstanding leadership in her profession and community. True to her commitment to helping others, Lisa specifically requested that instead of sharing her story, I share that of Sarah Bauer and her son, Mari, who are in need of community support. Upon learning of the plight Mari and Sarah are facing, I was moved, and I suspect many of you will be as well.

Mari is a sophomore at Blythewood High School and the classmate and teammate of Lisa’s son, Myles. He is 16 years old, has a twin brother, and is an honors student who lives to play football. Mari began experiencing seizures in July 2019 and was diagnosed with epilepsy. His neurologist started him on medication and cleared him to resume normal activities, but Mari’s condition continued to worsen. On February 19th, Mari underwent an MRI to narrow down the cause of his seizures, which revealed a concerning spot; he was promptly referred to a neurosurgeon. When Sarah and Mari met with the neurosurgeon the following week, he delivered earth-shattering news: Mari had a brain mass in his right frontal lobe.

Due to the tumor’s size and the swelling around it, Mari’s doctor advised that it needed to be removed right away; nine days later, on March 3rd, Mari underwent brain surgery. The procedure was successful, and he is now home and recovering while he and Sarah anxiously await the pathology reports to confirm whether the tumor was noncancerous. The emotional toll on the family has been and will continue to be tremendous, and Mari’s treatment has taken a considerable financial toll as well. Sarah, a single mom, has had to take time off from work to care for her son; meanwhile, she must continue to provide for her boys and do so while paying off astronomical medical bills.