Family, friends and Covid
Getting sick isn’t fun. In February Keith ended up in ER with a nasty case of influenza A and was sent home with instructions and medications. His coughing was horrific. A few days later I ended up in the hospital with Covid. I needed pain meds and oxygen and was miserable.
Friends helped us, but we needed more assistance. Our son Chris and daughter Cassie left their families and jobs and came home to care for us. During that week, I learned how incredible the two we raised really were.
At home, even with my many limitations, my house is built to accommodate my situation. I also use appliances to assist in maintaining independence. But the very things that assist my independence are not allowed in the hospital. I felt very helpless.
That fed into a circumstance where I needed a way to be comfortable while dealing with the results of a medication. I discovered my son is a problem-solver. He worked through the problem so I could be comfortable dealing with the medication. (Though he visited, Chris spent his time caring for his dad Keith.)
My daughter stayed with me at the hospital. She’s a mental healthcare professional, but I really had no idea of her expertise until I had hallucinations. It was incredibly frightening. I went deep into a dark pit that sucked at my soul.
When they hit, I didn’t even recognize Cassie at first. I was stuck in this cycle and had no clue what to do. Cassie recognized the situation and went into counselor mode. I knew she worked with PSDT victims and soldiers. I had no idea how good she was at her job.
She dragged me out of that mental pit, got me stabilized, and worked further to keep me out. She impressed both the nurse in the room at the time and me. I hope I never end up in that place again. Covid and influenza took their toll on us. I was glad when allowed to return home where Keith and I continued to recover together—slowly.
I am thankful for friends who first got us to the doctor and ER and watched out for us. I am thankful for those who brought food, that isn’t simple with my many allergies, to tempt our tastebuds. I am thankful for the many who prayed for us.
Most of all, we were blessed to have our kids come to care for us, realizing just how safe we were in their hands. Chris is back to creating and maintaining computer systems and Cassie is back to counseling and their families, but I will always treasure the feeling I could let go and be safe.
God is indeed good.
https://harpers.org/archive/1958/09/the-coming-ice-age/
© 2024 Carolyn R Scheidies
Published as Kearney Hub Column 3/20/2024