Guest Blog by Dean Carr*
Just after mid-March, I developed what I thought were nasal allergy symptoms. But when a sore throat, low-grade fever, and intense fatigue developed two days later, it was clear that allergies were not the cause. My wife Kathy had developed more severe symptoms a few days earlier than I did, much more suggestive of COVID-19. Her positive test was available an hour before I was transporting her to an emergency room for worsening symptoms. She was admitted to a hospital for two days of observation, then sent home to recover over the next three weeks. My symptoms had faded after 6 days. Our exposure was through the same pre-symptomatic individual, even though we were all being very cautious. Although generally healthy, we are both over 70, so we initially had serious concerns as to whether we would face major complications. Antibody testing in late May indicated that we may have some protection for the time being.
Everywhere we look there are many who have not been as fortunate as we were. This is the worst pandemic since 1918-1919, and the unnecessary loss of life, the medical complications, the strain on medical resources, and the considerable emotional and economic toll have turned everyone’s lives upside down in a way unprecedented in our lifetimes. As I write this, over 40 states are experiencing record numbers of new cases; Over 800 health care workers in the U.S. have died.
Reliable vaccines available to all are a long way off. The federal government should have acted to coordinate adequate testing, contact tracing, and imposed proactive masking and social distancing, but did not. Shutting down nonessential businesses proactively was fumbled, and reopening was not done utilizing the best available public health guidelines. Many governors have followed the federal example, contributing significantly to the worsening crisis. We will now fight a rearguard battle for a long time, with significant health and economic consequences, even though our state is doing better than some.
We WILL get through this. We need to help each other in whatever way we can: ask for help when we are struggling, keep in touch with our loved ones, support our local businesses, and lobby our elected officials to adopt the best public health practices to push through the challenging struggle we are now facing. Despite all the downside, we will be able to discover new positives in our lives. It’s up to us. As Lester Holt says, “Take care of yourself, and take care of each other”.
* Dean Carr is a retired family physician with 38+ years of experience at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle. He and Kathy, who is also a health care provider, currently embrace masking and social distancing in hopes that all of us will do the same.
Thank you for sharing this frightening experience, and being another coherent voice for science and rationality in the face of our appalling lack of leadership at the national level. We send our best wishes for your continued recovery. Let us know if we can help in any way.
Dean and Kathy,
So glad that you are recovered. To think that in the middle of your ordeal, you took the time to send me that sweet life-affirming thank you card after I was laid off at QUUF astounds me.
I hope it’s OK to share your blog with two friends of ours, the Stowaters. Betsy had it but John didn’t, and this was verified by an antibody test that came back today.
Love and stay safe,
Nancesca Schroff
Dear Dr. and Kathy Carr ,
It is things like this that keep it real for us. Thanks for keeping us in the loop about this. I am a retired RN, but also immune sensitive due to a renal transplant 8 yrs ago. Boy, do I miss my tribe! We at QUUF are”people” people and I am no exception.Thanks!
Wow Kathy and Dean! I was not aware of this, thank you for sharing! It’s still so important to make people aware of this, and having people we KNOW keeps it real! I’m sorry you have had to go through this frightening ordeal, glad you are both on the mends, and reach out to us if we can help! Love you!
Kathy and Dean, wow…so very glad you weathered this! Thank you for taking time to give details of your ordeal. As you often do, you will inspire and encourage others.
Thanks for this article on your experience with covid. So glad you’ve recovered!
So sorry Dean that you and your wife had to go through this ordeal. Glad that you have both successfully recovered. Thank you for sharing your story.
Dear Dean and Kathy,
Our 7-member family were QUUF members for 10 years (2005-2015) before we all moved to Hawaii. We’ve been more fortunate here, than on the Mainland, regarding the Virus, but I have a question for Dean and Kathy. I read research about a medical procedure called a “Hi-Flow Nasal Cannula” (HFNC) which was used as a substitute for being “intubated” for treating the Virus. The article proved that using the HFNC along with a surgical mask for the patient was able to reduce Viral spreading to medical professionals treating the patient. My question is: did Kathy’s doctor order this device (HFNC) for her while she was in the hospital, or did she require “intubation”, or neither one was needed? The article justified the use of the HFNC with a surgical mask, instead of intubation. Personally, I would never want to be intubated.
Jim,
I never had to be incubated and since my coronavirus experience was in late March the HFNC wasn’t even a consideration. I had a serious bronchitis, starting to develop signs of pneumonia but was lucky enough to never need oxygen and gradually recovered. I feel very lucky to have dodged that experience!
Wow. I hadn’t heard about your Covid 19 experiences. I wish you both the best for your recovery, and please call us if John and I can help in any way.
So glad you are both recovering, thanks for sharing your experience and your thoughts on this pandemic and how it is affecting all of us.
Kathy and Dean, wow…so very glad you weathered this! Thank you for taking time to give details of your ordeal. As you often do, you will inspire and encourage others.