Muh Muh Muh My Corona (virus)

I disagree that this will be an interesting test. Maybe for the vaccinated adults who are making a cognitive choice, but to include the vaccine ineligible kids? Please don't. Today my daughter and I made the choice to cancel an October flight trip to Chicago. Because we'd be traveling with a 3 yr old and 5 yr old. The reward isn't worth the risk. We may lose the flight money (still iffy if it can be reused) but their lives are worth the expense. Please reconsider getting a sitter.

 

Too bad @Donny in his element didn’t post that. But I guess he was out of his element.

 

tea and ease-

I'd understood one working strategy to be shielding unvaccinated children with vaccinated adults. Me and mine are going to be masked anyway, at least while we're around the group.

I don't particularly want to go but we need to get out and fly again. Too much sacrifice has already been made. This is also many weeks away.

 

A few weeks ago I mentioned my friend whose husband is in the ICU with COVID. He's still there. Four weeks now. Her recent updates have gone from scared to trying to be positive. She puts celebratory emojis on responses and says he's doing better and is going to make it. But it also is clearly her just thinking positively and that she doesn't really know. I think that's a good way to handle a rough situation.

Today she made a post with a positive and exciting backgrounds that says, this is the week he's coming home, I know it! And all the responses are like, yay, I knew he would, I'm so happy. She didn't say that he is coming home, though, she's just hopeful. (So reading comprehension is an issue for many.) I hope he pulls through. I can only imagine how much it sucks. In a way, good for her for posting the positive thoughts, even if they might not be realistic. I have no idea how I'd react.

And four damn weeks in the ICU and counting. Yet, we're still battling this and so many don't understand the drain it is on the system.

 

@Octave, I'm going to be that asshole. How many stories have we seen that started out with "I thought, 'What are the odds?' We've already had to give up so much. Surely this one time...." I don't want to see you or someone you care about be the subject of one of those stories.

 

I'm so sorry for your friend's situation, Roscablo. I'm not going to profess being smart enough to know everything there is about intubation, but when Gwen was in the hospital four years ago with pneumonia/sepsis, the doctors impressed upon me that the ventilator begins to lose its effectiveness around the 10-day mark -- because the muscles that compress and expand the lungs become weaker and weaker from atrophy -- and were very adamant about trying to wean her off of it by then.

Dr. "Fish and Cut Bait" -- who was particularly blunt and used that specific term for her situation -- made it clear on the ninth morning that Gwen was either going to breathe on her own or have a tracheostomy done. Despite the encouragement from me and her favorite ICU nurse, she failed the first night. But she made enough improvement the next day to get the tube removed and keep her oxygen levels up with a minimum amount of help. (She also confessed that she tried not to fall asleep and watched the monitor all night so she'd pass!) She was out of the hospital four days later, barely able to climb the six steps leading into the cabin, but alive.

When I hear talk about multiple weeks on ventilation, I certainly grow concerned for their situation. I've lost three members of our golfing group, including one my age who was intubated for four weeks and never recovered. All I can do is send prayers that she hopes for the best but prepares for the worst.

Miracles happen. God bless them.

 

Oscar, with full respect and then some,
Not to put too fine a point on it but ... the clock is ticking on our lives with this thing. We are finite beings. We've given up too much.
People tend to say trust the science - no, it's more about trusting the mathematics. Which is a conviction I've developed over the last few weeks.

 

My aunt died today of covid. She was vaccinated, but the breakthrough got her. I don’t know if my cousins are going to have a service. I have my doubts that all of them are vaccinated.

I wasn’t particularly close with her, but it has hit my family, too. She was in her 80s.

 

Sorry for your loss, swingline.

 

My condolences for your loss.

 

Deepest condolences. Sending all the warm Cali vibes to you and your family.