I’ve refrained the last eight months from pushing my viewpoints about wearing masks during the pandemic onto others. Still, medical studies are showing that the practice — one which I’ve implemented in public since March — is proving beneficial to stopping the spread of the coronavirus...
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
I’ve refrained the last eight months from pushing my viewpoints about wearing masks during the pandemic onto others. Still, medical studies are showing that the practice — one which I’ve implemented in public since March — is proving beneficial to stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
All I will say is “I’m thankful the virus has not been at my door, yet.”
Yes, I’m sick of wearing this mask. I do thank my co-worker, Mary Cook, for making me a most comfortable and lovely one back in March. That mask has been through the wash most everyday, sanitized and keeps on going strong.
As an “essential worker,” I’ll keep wearing it, and others I have collected and buy, until this stuff is over for good. I continue to see people at public events and at government meetings still refusing to wear one; they know better, I hope.
The thing that’s really, really sad to me is how people, whether joking or dead serious, continue to post on social media how the increasing number of reported deaths is fake or exaggerated news. While none of this reporting process is foolproof, at least we have some figures to let us know what’s going on in our areas. Still, the process I admit could be a lot better. But modern day America has not faced such a crisis.
I have been informed by Superintendent Don Embry that the school system is seeing its COVID-19 numbers increase. Eakin Elementary and Harris Middle School are dealing with significant quarantines right now.
Sadly, we are printing weekly obituaries of people of all ages, dying right here in this county from COVID-19. I’m sure their family members will tell you the reality of it all.
My mind keeps going back to a story I did recently with a Shelbyville man, who has recovered from a severe case of COVID-19. I’ll never forget his statement: “If I could say anything about COVID . . . it’s real and that everyone should take precautions and be safe.”
Still don’t believe it’s all real?
Don’t take my word for my stance. This is truly a real pandemic.
The following ia an excerpt from a friend — a talented registered nurse who works in an intensive care unit in the Midwest. I asked her recently to shed some light on what it’s like to stare, from her protective gear of course, into the eyes of those hospitalized and positive with the virus and sadly, those dying from it.
“It’s sometimes the hardest thing you have to do. Not all COVID patients are severely ill, but those who are have to suffer alone, with strangers almost 100 percent of the time. I’ve watched so many people die scared and alone.
You try to comfort them the best you can, but not being with the people they want at that time is the hardest part. We use phones or Zoom to allow them to see their families, but when you are that sick, is it honestly enough?
I’ve seen the fear in a 40-year-old’s eyes, when you tell them their illness has progressed enough that they will need to be placed on a ventilator to live. By that point, they basically feel like they are suffocating.
You work with these people everyday, praying and hoping that they will recover and will not progress further. Sometimes, you just watch their will to live disintegrate.
On the other hand, we have had some great success stories. It’s not always doom or a death sentence, but the most frustrating thing of all is some, if not most of these cases we are seeing, could be prevented.
If people would stop being so stubborn about “their protected rights” and just social isolate or continue to wear their masks, I feel some of these individuals wouldn’t be sick. We can’t completely stop this disease, but pretending it doesn’t exist is just ignorance.”
Well, there you go . . . the truth about COVID-19, from the voice of a young medical professional. I had to add her statement to this column, because to me, it should be a real punch in the gut to those standing on their “rights,” all the while potentially exposing another to what can become a deadly virus.
My heart goes out to those suffering and especially to those who’ve lost loved ones to this virus. I love my friend who’s willing to lay down her life for others. Peace be with you all in this time of crisis.
