This last year everybody was affected by the pandemic. Coronavirus began in China and spread around the world like wildfire. Like many other pandemics since the beginning of time, diseases have appeared and surprised societies and created many deaths.
As of this writing (Dec. 29) the current world’s statistics according to the CDC.gov stands at
| Total Cases | Recovered | Deaths | |
| Worldwide | 81.2M | 45.9M | 1.77M |
| United States | 19.4M | +189K | 335K |
| Florida | 1.28M | +8,198 | 21,307 |
| Okaloosa County | 12,406 | +82 | 224 |
These numbers are staggering.
I want to share my perspective on the coronavirus.
Early December, the month began as a busy clinic day. However, two of our three nurses and one of our front staff developed fevers. The clinic decided to close on Dec. 2 and have everyone tested at the Health Department. The team was all tested, and we remained closed until Dec. 7. All appeared fine, and all tests were negative.
Thursday, Dec. 10, I began the workday tired. Suddenly, I got sudden rigors, chills, and could not get warm but was running fever 102. I was so cold I could not find a way to stay warm. I was retested for COVID and sent home.
I was notified by the health department Friday night that tested indeed COVID positive.
By that time, I had already developed severe body aches, headaches, continual fevers of 103, and chills. I could not remain warm. I lost all my appetite – never did I lose the sense of smell or taste.
I was quarantined and stayed home locked up in a small room in bed blankets, heavy clothing, and drinking lots of water. Remember, coronavirus is a virus, and there is no treatable treatment except for time and symptomatic relief.
Thursday, Dec. 17, I felt as if I was getting better. My fevers and chills had appeared to resolve. So, I thought. Until I found myself passed out in the bathroom on the tile floor, unable to get up, it’s funny that the coolness of the tile against my body made me feel comfortable. I don’t know how long I was out. I know my wife was standing above me, having heard the thud from downstairs. I stumbled back to bed, and then I slept for the following 24 hours. I had no energy or strength as COVID zapped it all from me.
Monday, I was so much better that I returned to work. I had undergone a sufficient amount of time for quarantine. I had had no fevers for over four days and no chills. I still had no appetite, and somebody aches that I assumed because of my rheumatoid arthritis.
Tuesday, things turn for the worst. I developed a hacking cough and felt short of breath. My temperature barely rose, but again I could not get warm. Once again, sent home. The cough hacking made me feel as if I were suffocating. Laying down made it worse. Sitting made all the drainage create more even more hacking.
It is Christmas, and it went by as a lost day, me unaware that it had even passed. It went by, and we did not celebrate with our granddaughters. I fact, we have not seen them since this all began. We asked them to stay away so that THEY DO NOT GET SICK!
I still cough with hacking, and it makes me feel as if I were suffocating, but it is improving. I think that I have aged twenty years as I can only walk several steps before I feel short of breath. But this too is improving. Again, I have no fevers. I feel fatigued. I am well hydrated, and I feel like a goldfish in the water, lots and lots of water.
I am on the mend and getting better.
However, I am outraged. I see youngsters and middle age mask free or wearing the mask inappropriate below their nose. I am not vindictive, but I do hope that their luck holds out. What makes me angrier that although they may not get sick, someone around them will because of it.
Oh well, this has been the way of human nature since the beginning. Some have no concern for anyone other than themselves. The new generation seems to have lost all respect for anything other than themselves.
By the time this is printed, the New Year will have come, and hopefully, it will bring a better life for all the world.
Let us pray that the deployed vaccines do what they make a difference.
Be Blessed, and may God watch over us all. HAPPY NEW YEAR
