I really don’t mean this to be political so don’t take it that way. We read about people dying and we see the numbers but there’s nothing that awakens you to reality more than this stuff hitting people you know.
I’ve worked with a man the last six or seven years that was a band director in my school. He was irreverent, intelligent, and fun to be around. His wife was on the front line of the Covid battle as a nurse. She contracted Covid and in turn gives it to one of her two daughter and to my coworker. He kept us updated with Facebook posts. There were updates on the school staff site as well. I thought I’d share those updated because I find it a stark reminder of the reality of this virus that we’re hopefully on the verge of turning the corner on.
I’ll change the names for privacy’s sake...
January 1st:
“Covid update: feels like a mild case of the flu. Ironic that feeling that bad could be a good thing.
**** (wife) is in icu. They’re working to avoid intubation. That’s ventilator, for us non med-speak types. She’s exhausted, from the stress of the disease.
“Please forgive me for not answering comments and replies. Mild flu is still flu-like. Bleah.”
January 2nd:
“Sitting in the easy chair with a Springer puppy and a Dachshund on my lap. The Lions Club are discussing who gets to make a grocery/medication run to leave on the front porch. I feel loved.”
January 2nd:
“Double viral pneumonia. Critical. Pray.”
January 8th (school Facebook site):
“I talked to **** this evening. He is still home and recovering but extremely weak. Their daughter is still on oxygen. His wife, ****, is waiting for a bed to open at UK so she can have an ecmo bed. They most definitely could still use our prayers!!”
January 11:
“
Health update, 1/11/21
As of noon, today, **** is in icu at UK hospital. Double-pneumonia with covid. She is on a vent, and they want to improve her kidney function. She is sedated, in order to synch her breathing with the vent. Her oxygen feed has been reduced some, and her blood ox levels are in the 90’s. Temperature normal. Feeding tube permission has been given, as has dialysis permission, should it become necessary. Permission has been given for a brachioscope look into her lungs, also should that be necessary. She is being moved into and out of prone position. She is in an “ecmo” bed.
**** (daughter) was released from her five-day stay on the covid floor, and is currently in her room, firmly attached to an oxygen machine. She does not have to quarantine herself, since I got it, too. She is moving like a tired old woman.
I have a slight fever and a nagging cough. Hydration is a necessary chore, appetite is pretty much not there, and a blind newborn kitten could take me four falls out of five without breaking a sweat. We’re talking walk twenty feet and sit down for a while weak. I have to break down the walk from the easy chair to the refrigerator and back into three sections.
Vampires, vacuum cleaners, and covid-19: three things that define suckage. Anybody who claims that this thing is not real needs to be horsewhipped out of their fantasy world. Unless you’ve had it, you have no idea.”
January 13;
“Health update 1/13/21
The news from Lexington icu is very bad. They have ‘maxed out’ every treatment they can, and
***** (wife) condition continues to deteriorate. **** (daughter) is going to Lexington tonight, to hug her mama.
***** (daughter) is still weak and on oxygen. Feeling marginally better.
I have a cough, no energy, and twice, today, a nosebleed. I do not live, right now. I exist
God Bless us all.”
Today:
****(second daughter) is on her way to Lexington. The head icu doctor said she can get in to ****(wife).. **** (daughter) and I will FaceTime while she’s there, so we can be together one last time. Two doctors have called me. They aren’t sure **** can last until **** gets there.
I’ve worked with a man the last six or seven years that was a band director in my school. He was irreverent, intelligent, and fun to be around. His wife was on the front line of the Covid battle as a nurse. She contracted Covid and in turn gives it to one of her two daughter and to my coworker. He kept us updated with Facebook posts. There were updates on the school staff site as well. I thought I’d share those updated because I find it a stark reminder of the reality of this virus that we’re hopefully on the verge of turning the corner on.
I’ll change the names for privacy’s sake...
January 1st:
“Covid update: feels like a mild case of the flu. Ironic that feeling that bad could be a good thing.
**** (wife) is in icu. They’re working to avoid intubation. That’s ventilator, for us non med-speak types. She’s exhausted, from the stress of the disease.
“Please forgive me for not answering comments and replies. Mild flu is still flu-like. Bleah.”
January 2nd:
“Sitting in the easy chair with a Springer puppy and a Dachshund on my lap. The Lions Club are discussing who gets to make a grocery/medication run to leave on the front porch. I feel loved.”
January 2nd:
“Double viral pneumonia. Critical. Pray.”
January 8th (school Facebook site):
“I talked to **** this evening. He is still home and recovering but extremely weak. Their daughter is still on oxygen. His wife, ****, is waiting for a bed to open at UK so she can have an ecmo bed. They most definitely could still use our prayers!!”
January 11:
“
Health update, 1/11/21
As of noon, today, **** is in icu at UK hospital. Double-pneumonia with covid. She is on a vent, and they want to improve her kidney function. She is sedated, in order to synch her breathing with the vent. Her oxygen feed has been reduced some, and her blood ox levels are in the 90’s. Temperature normal. Feeding tube permission has been given, as has dialysis permission, should it become necessary. Permission has been given for a brachioscope look into her lungs, also should that be necessary. She is being moved into and out of prone position. She is in an “ecmo” bed.
**** (daughter) was released from her five-day stay on the covid floor, and is currently in her room, firmly attached to an oxygen machine. She does not have to quarantine herself, since I got it, too. She is moving like a tired old woman.
I have a slight fever and a nagging cough. Hydration is a necessary chore, appetite is pretty much not there, and a blind newborn kitten could take me four falls out of five without breaking a sweat. We’re talking walk twenty feet and sit down for a while weak. I have to break down the walk from the easy chair to the refrigerator and back into three sections.
Vampires, vacuum cleaners, and covid-19: three things that define suckage. Anybody who claims that this thing is not real needs to be horsewhipped out of their fantasy world. Unless you’ve had it, you have no idea.”
January 13;
“Health update 1/13/21
The news from Lexington icu is very bad. They have ‘maxed out’ every treatment they can, and
***** (wife) condition continues to deteriorate. **** (daughter) is going to Lexington tonight, to hug her mama.
***** (daughter) is still weak and on oxygen. Feeling marginally better.
I have a cough, no energy, and twice, today, a nosebleed. I do not live, right now. I exist
God Bless us all.”
Today:
****(second daughter) is on her way to Lexington. The head icu doctor said she can get in to ****(wife).. **** (daughter) and I will FaceTime while she’s there, so we can be together one last time. Two doctors have called me. They aren’t sure **** can last until **** gets there.
