March 2020…

Like all major events that have occurred in our lifetimes, this month, March 2020, will be one of those times that we will always remember as to where we were and how it impacted our lives.

I lost my mom earlier this week, not to the Coronavirus, but she was in the hospital during this time.  The understandable precautions the hospitals have made to protect everyone made visiting a loved one difficult and complicated.  Being screened at the entrance of the hospital, having your temperature taken, then gowned up, masked and gloved is clinical and impersonal…allowing only one visitor at a time.  Nevertheless, I am grateful that my family was allowed to visit our mom and be there in her final hours.  My heart goes out to all those families who have a loved one who is sick with the Coronavirus and can’t be by their bedside.

I had good conversations with my mom’s doctor and her day nurse.  Like me, they both have asthma.  When I asked if they were concerned about being on the frontline caring for the sick, they both said yes, but both are committed to caring for all those who are infected.    Because of his contact with patients who have the virus, the doctor hasn’t touched his family for the past 11 days for their protection.  I wondered if I would be that selfless and somehow I don’t think so.

They expressed their frustrations regarding people’s complacency regarding COVID-19.  Are we as a society taking this as seriously as we should?  These healthcare workers really are our heroes, working under dire circumstances to protect us all.  They are all making sacrifices that we often don’t think about, and it’s our responsibility to do what we can to help keep them safe too.  Stay home and if that’s not possible be mindful of social distancing.

Be safe everyone,

xox Judy