When the reality of Covid-19 hits home!

So almost at the end of week 5 now, and well, nothing much has changed. Last couple of weeks have been a bit harder as its been what would normally have been the Easter Holidays from work, and as I'm not able to go into work to help out there hasn't been an awful lot for me to do. I'm hoping that I can get busy again next week (I need the distraction.)

So last week my Dads wife was taken to hospital very unwell, suffering with confusion as a result of a really high temperature.. My dad called me, heartbroken because he couldn't go with her and take care of her as a husband should. Needless to say, she was assessed, told she had in fact had Covid-19, told 'she was over the worst and sent home to rest with a course of antibiotics. 

After speaking with her today on the phone, it seemed to me that she is is still very poorly, her cough sounded awful, she was so out of breath she could hardly talk and can only manage a couple of steps at a time, I and my sister have both asked her to seek further medical advice, which I hope with all of my heart she does. It got me thinking about how I used to feel and perhaps sound pre-transplant, when my lung function was a mere 13%, when I was at my lowest ebb, and still, I don't ever remember sounding that poorly, poorly yes, but not that poorly. I mean I could be wrong (It's been known), it was after all almost 9 years ago now, but I dunno something just doesn't feel right, she is just so breathless.
That then takes me on t the considerable amount of worry I now have for my dad, who is also a very vulnerable person, and possibly the world's worst patient too (stubborn and cant see when he needs help.) He is apparently sleeping alot and I dunno I just hope he seeks advice should he feel he needs to.

I hate been in this position where I just cannot jump in my car and go check that everyone is ok. It goes against every instinct that I have!

Im going to leave you this piece of writing from my sister..

Please everyone, stay at home, stay safe, that lovely beauty spot thats more than 10 mins from your home, that you need to use your car to get to? When all is said and done, is it or would it be worth it? The parks, the walks, the beeches, they'll all still be there and better still so will you be, if you just do the right thing and stay at home.

*By my Sister*
I am not one to get involved in political debate, I never have been. But in this instance I feel the need to share my opinion.
When this all started everyone was complacent! It's just the Flu, I heard a few times!
When it ramped up (as many of us suspected) people looked to the government for a solution. People praised Boris for doing a great job. People looked at hm for answers.
Now that the death toll has reached that awful point of being over 10,000 people are starting to get angry. Why didn't the government act fast enough? Why is the NHS so stretched? Why is there a shortage of PPE? Heads need to roll! People need to take the blame! It's natural... when we're scared, insecure... we need someone to blame!
Now this isn't the first time illnesses have spread.. Spanish Flu, Ebola, the Plague etc... dating back years and years! For many years people have known how vulnerable we are to illness, how fast things can spread.
Yet people think Boris is responsible,
Every single government that's been elected. Evey primininster, every health secretary... everyone knew our NHS would, at some point, be at breaking point. Everyone knew PPE was an absolute necessity and we should have had it ready in huge supply. We have front line workers dying in the line of duty.
But before we place the blame everywhere else,,, we need to take a look at ourselves. Yes our NHS severely lacks funding! But, day in day out the health system is abused... obesity is rife because people fill their kids with junk food instead of cooking at home, mental health issues are rife because the media and social media tell our kids they need to look a certain way, Our A&E departments are crammed with people that don't need to be there!Notice how quiet they are now, so many people, all of a sudden can manage their own ailments at home.
No prime minister would envy being in Boris' position, No one can say they would have handled it differently... Why? Because we would still have a shortage of PPE, we would still have idiots that think its ok to have parties and BBQ's on the beech during lockdown!!
Collective responsibility is what is needed!!
Be the change you want to see.

Don't like the spread, use your head and stay at home!!

Take care guys!!

xxx

Please stay home. I don't want Covid -19!!

Morning, afternoon or evening inmates, depending when you're reading this... that is if you're reading it at all.

"Only when normal things are not normal anymore, do we realise how special normal things are."

Almost the end of week 3! It's definitely the small things I miss, the really silly things, the freedom to go to the shop, to go for a walk (ok, that doesn't happen often) but it's when you can't, that's when you realise just how important these little, seemingly,insignificant things are.  Being able to call round to my mums for a cup of tea and a chat which almost always ends up in us putting the world to rights!

I've heard and read some very unsettling things in the media this week. I try not to pay too much attention because, sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between real and fake news particularly on social media, but, when you read that people unlikely to survive Covid-19 won't be offered life support (or a ventilator) and are been asked to sign a DNR (do not resuscitate) that statement alone fills me with dread. That's because potentially and I stress potentially, I'd be one of those people who would fall into that category if I were to fall that seriously ill. Now I'm not silly enough to think that it's that clear cut, but to put it bluntly that's the reality..
I suppose if I really sit and think about it... no...I don't understand it, not at all. I know that I didn't get this far, to only get this far! So please when your thinking about just popping round next door, I mean it can't hurt can it? or just popping to that park, or beauty spot, or beech, I mean what harm could it do right? You are potentially taking someones chance at life away from them, that's the harm, that's the risk... Put the shoes on, imagine that someone is someone you love, someone you couldn't live without!
Equally as bad, imagine someone you love circums to this god awful virus and your not there, you can't even be there to say goodbye at their funeral (if you call it one of those, with no one there to say goodbye.) I don't think I could ever come to terms with that.

So please, just do as you're being asked to do, after all, it's gotta be easier than the alternative.

Take care, much love! xxx