I don& #39;t share personal information here, but as Thanksgiving looms this is important. Hopefully it will help others consider how they spend this holiday season.
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Recently my father passed away. He spend over a week in a pseudo ward of the hospital for people who should be in ICU but weren& #39;t because the hospital was full of COVID patients, including the ICU, & they were at capacity.
2/ https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/nov/10/covid-19-hospitalizations-are-surging-where-are/">https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020...
2/ https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/nov/10/covid-19-hospitalizations-are-surging-where-are/">https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020...
He should have had round the clock care, but instead an aide visited him maybe twice a day to preserve precious PPE because 8 months later, our healthcare workers are still working in lack. The doctor hardly visited to preserve PPE.
GET THEM PPE!
3/ https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941071">https://www.medscape.com/viewartic...
GET THEM PPE!
3/ https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941071">https://www.medscape.com/viewartic...
My father could not have visitors. He was all alone in the hospital and his death was all but assured. COVID doesn& #39;t care about your feelings. It is brutal.
We moved my father into hospice.
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We moved my father into hospice.
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We all had regular COVID tests, but tests are just a snapshot & until the virus starts enough of an immune response in your body (5-21 days from infection) you may be spreading the virus without a positive result.
5/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/23/why-a-negative-covid-test-doesnt-give-you-the-green-light-for-thanksgiving/">https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/2...
5/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/23/why-a-negative-covid-test-doesnt-give-you-the-green-light-for-thanksgiving/">https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/2...
My father was considered high COVID risk because he was in the hospital. Hospice withheld certain care due to this. Getting a test took a long time and results were delayed.
We have a surge almost everywhere, COVID tests & results can be delayed.
6/ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/18/covid-testing-faces-delays-again-as-demand-spikes-ahead-of-the-holidays-.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/1...
We have a surge almost everywhere, COVID tests & results can be delayed.
6/ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/18/covid-testing-faces-delays-again-as-demand-spikes-ahead-of-the-holidays-.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/1...
My father was dying, in pain & often had trouble breathing. He insisted on wearing a mask 24/7 despite this, socially distancing & sanitizing his hands often. He wanted to protect those he loved, just in case. Even after his test came back negative.
This is love.
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This is love.
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My father (a scientist) knew during COVID& #39;s incubation period false negatives are high. Researchers found in the 4 days prior to symptom onset, the probability of a false negative is 67%. It takes 5-21 days for symptoms & some stay asymptomatic.
8/ https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/covid-19-exposure-positive-test_l_5f771d7cc5b66377b280e67e">https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/cov...
8/ https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/covid-19-exposure-positive-test_l_5f771d7cc5b66377b280e67e">https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/cov...
I am sharing this very personal & painful story of my father because I want you to think about him when you think about your Thanksgiving plans. This is one snapshot in time. There is a difference between "want" and "need".
A virus doesn& #39;t care about your wants.
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A virus doesn& #39;t care about your wants.
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I came up with a few questions you can ask yourself when you make your plans for Thanksgiving. A virus doesn& #39;t care about your feelings. It does what it was made for - infect people so it can spread & spread. You aren& #39;t making a decision for you, you& #39;re making it for others.
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Q: How would you feel if you gave COVID to those you love most? Death is not the only outcome of COVID. Many who are asymptomatic or have mild cases have potentially life long disability. We don& #39;t know enough yet.
Is it worth your "feels"?
11/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/doctors-begin-to-crack-covids-mysterious-long-term-effects/ar-BB1aAS6V">https://www.msn.com/en-us/hea...
Is it worth your "feels"?
11/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/doctors-begin-to-crack-covids-mysterious-long-term-effects/ar-BB1aAS6V">https://www.msn.com/en-us/hea...
Q: How would you feel if you gave your loved ones COVID & they couldn& #39;t go to the hospital for care? Hospitals in many states are turning people away because they are flooded with COVID patients.
A virus doesn& #39;t care about your turkey and stuffing.
12/ https://www.abqjournal.com/1518539/covid-patients-stretch-hospitals-beyond-capacity.html">https://www.abqjournal.com/1518539/c...
A virus doesn& #39;t care about your turkey and stuffing.
12/ https://www.abqjournal.com/1518539/covid-patients-stretch-hospitals-beyond-capacity.html">https://www.abqjournal.com/1518539/c...
Q: How would you feel if after Thanksgiving your loved one had an emergency - heart attack, stroke, accident, etc - & could not get care because the surge is now a tsunami because people just like you decided to spend Thanksgiving with loved ones?
13/ https://www.denverpost.com/2020/11/13/colorado-coronavirus-hospital-capacity-transfer-center/">https://www.denverpost.com/2020/11/1...
13/ https://www.denverpost.com/2020/11/13/colorado-coronavirus-hospital-capacity-transfer-center/">https://www.denverpost.com/2020/11/1...
Do something different this year. Show your love by staying away. Stop being selfish & making decisions for others.
There are people in El Paso watching their loved ones dumped into semis because people thought they were safe.
https://www.newsweek.com/texas-national-guard-help-el-paso-morgues-hard-hit-county-reports-22-new-covid-deaths-1549237
14/">https://www.newsweek.com/texas-nat...
There are people in El Paso watching their loved ones dumped into semis because people thought they were safe.
https://www.newsweek.com/texas-national-guard-help-el-paso-morgues-hard-hit-county-reports-22-new-covid-deaths-1549237
14/">https://www.newsweek.com/texas-nat...
I know you are tired. I am tired too. My dad was tired too.
This is not the time to be laxed. I hope you think of my father this Thanksgiving & think "If he can show his love by making choices for his loved ones to keep them safe, then so can I."
You& #39;ve got this America.
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This is not the time to be laxed. I hope you think of my father this Thanksgiving & think "If he can show his love by making choices for his loved ones to keep them safe, then so can I."
You& #39;ve got this America.
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