Word is getting around about our situation so let me enlighten any who have doubts about the severity of the issue and about the importance of stopping the spread.
Saturday I delivered my wife to the emergency room with weakness and breathing difficulties. It was Severe enough that she could not speak without triggering a coughing fit and the severity of the breathing issues developed quite literally over- night. She had pneumonia in both lungs and was immediately put on oxygen and other therapies. Monday the test results came back, Covid positive. She is on Cloroquine therapy and has steadily improved during the week.
Sunday morning her father developed the same symptoms and I delivered him to the emergency room. He was also diagnosed with Covid. His symptoms were less severe but because of age and contributing health factors he has declined to the point where now he is sedated and on a ventilator. We have hope in that he has shown improvement but this is all new enough that there is no reliable prognosis.
Sunday night Wendy’s mother (in the nursing home) declined seriously enough that they delivered her to the hospital Monday morning. Wilson hospital was gracious enough to place her in an adjoining room with Dad so that he could have some time with her. Yesterday she passed away from Covid. Dad does not know as he has been sedated. It could be days or even weeks before he finds out that the love of his life has passed. She will be laid to rest Monday with just a couple family members able to attend. A gathering will have to wait.
Through all of this I am home. Alone. Quarantined. Our daughters are at their respective homes. Alone. Quarantined. Wendy is in the hospital. Alone. Quarantined. We need to be together but more than ever we know the potential to save lives by forgoing our needs. If we can endure these more severe levels of isolation in these circumstances you can endure the less-restrictive common sense distancing you are asked to abide by. We will likely never know how it came to our family but we are taking steps to make sure it stops with us if at all possible. Please do what you can.
