At least she and her doctor suspect she has it. Her doctor was having a hard time lining up a test for her in their small mountain community. Their local healthcare system is severely overtaxed. It made me feel grateful anew that I have received such attentive care from the moment I suspected I'd contracted it.
I am so worried about my friend, though. She turns 64 tomorrow. She's overweight. She has heart trouble and diabetes. She basically ticks all the boxes of those at real risk.
I'm grateful I had a mild case. My fever broke five days ago and I no longer get those killer headaches. But I still can't stay awake for more than a few hours at a time. I now have a rash on my chest and my calves. I haven't been hungry in 12 days.
Trust me on this. Anyone who tells you "it's just the flu" is not your friend. Anyone who risks giving someone else this virus because they resist wearing a mask when they could be asymptomatic should not have a clear conscience.† I hate living like this and I want my old life back. But the people who just go rolling along as if this isn't real are just prolonging the agony for the rest of us. Shame on them.
*This wasn't as reckless as it might sound. My friend's cousin died at home the week before (a combination of diabetes and liver failure) and they all assembled at his bedside to say goodbye. The family had a "what the hell else could happen to us?" mindset that I suppose I understand. OK, not really. But since I was more careful and still caught the fucking virus, I'm not comfortable being too judgey here.
†I don't care if they quote scripture. I'm not impressed by their misinterpretation of the Constitution. They are neither good Christians nor good patriots. Nearly 14,650 of their fellow Americans are dead.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Sometimes it seems like there is no rhyme or reason to who gets this stupid virus. I know a few that are obnoxiously anti-mask and they have remained healthy as a horse while others I know who have practically lived in a plastic bubble since March (even when restrictions were lifted here) and they've been sick. The worst case, though, is the selfish jerk who was working on my husband's job site. He was feeling sick, knew his son and the son's girlfriend had tested positive, and that he'd been around them a lot...and he came to work for several days. My husband didn't find out about it until one of the men complained to him. The guy kept saying he'd been tested and was negative, but when my husband took it to the owner and they got involved it was discovered that he hadn't been tested. Once he was, it came back positive. Now something like 8 guys have to quarantine because of this jerk (who was heard LAUGHING about it) and one of the men, who is also the one who was around him most, has a very high risk wife at home. I just do not get people like that at all.
ReplyDeleteThis is scary news about your friend. I will definitely send her some love and positivity. My bestie is in quarantine and will be tested Tuesday. All the area schools are closed to in-person teaching until January 4th at the earliest.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling better and stronger.
I am sorry your friend is ill. That she ticks off all of those boxes is a concern - my doctor flat out told me I'd probably die if I get the virus as I tick off all sorts of co-morbidity boxes. I hope your appetite returns soon and that you have something for the rash. Take care of yourself.
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