My sister is a doctor down here in Miami, so I asked her how things were going?
SISTER: There are people coming into the hospital with fevers, dry coughs, severe symptoms...and I can't get them tested. Last week three of my patients passed out... one lost consciousness in the bathroom, faceplanted and knocked out five teeth. Another woman was 30, severe body aches, pneumonia, shaking...I couldn't get her tested.
ME: So what happened to her? Is she alive?
SISTER: I don't know. She left the hospital against our advice. She's out there, wandering.
ME: I'm trying to optimistic here and I hope NYC is the worst of it because of the heavy use of public transportation and population density.
SISTER: That's true. There is less people packed together here and most people have cars. Maybe that will mean something.
*we walked outside and smelled the hickory smoke from two houses down. The neighbors were hosting a big cookout with bouncy room, music, and bbq. Cars were packed in the driveway and spilling out onto the street...a bright, beautiful day.*
***
RIP FERGY
I am still thinking about Gerald Fergy's death. He was a family friend who was more like an uncle. There's no space for mourning or coming together so we are left with our own thoughts. I woke up the next morning to the sound of a weed whacker.
The lawn crew was mowing the grass outside this morning, which was a bit surreal. I put on my mask and went outside. They were smiling and going about their business. My mom told the crew 'hey you should wear a mask' and they thanked her for being concerned. We went back inside and one of the gardeners was talking to another employee, laughing it off... 'my mom is a nurse and she said back in '81 there was the same thing....it's not that big a deal...' and they continued mowing the lawn.
-around the block, residents were holding a slip n' slide party in their front yard, playing hip hop, dancing around, and bellyflopping over slicked-down tarps. They waved to me. I crossed to the other side of the street and waved back.
-Fergy was someone who was always working and helping other people, but had very little regard for his own safety and health. He took my cousins on field trips, was at every Christmas and Thanksgiving the last decade.
-I remember one time he asked me for a small favor and he looked mortified. Despite helping us out for decades, he was worried I was going to say 'no' or that it would be an inconvenience to do a small task.
- he was among the small group of ppl: the givers. There are other people who take, ask, beg, and bemoan their lack of help at every turn. And then there's the 2-5% like Fergy who never ask for anything, give, never celebrate their birthday, don't accept gifts.
- I know so many givers who do so much for others that they don't take care of themselves. My friend David worked with a school teacher who coached multiple teams, worked as a counselor, drove people to school, never had a day off. The teacher had a heart attack and died.
-how come so many of the givers, don't give to themselves? You won't be able to help anybody if you're gone.
- and as I look at the death count (up to 5,000), I make a note to also look at the recovery count: 10,000.
- thank you for the well wishes and concern. I'm fine. Just remembering a good man. Rest well, Uncle Fergy.
- oh, and STAY HOME! Save the slip n' slide parties for July...or August!
***
My sister is a doctor down here in Miami, so I asked her how things were going?
SISTER: There are people coming into the hospital with fevers, dry coughs, severe symptoms...and I can't get them tested. Last week three of my patients passed out... one lost consciousness in the bathroom, faceplanted and knocked out five teeth. Another woman was 30, severe body aches, pneumonia, shaking...I couldn't get her tested.
ME: So what happened to her? Is she alive?
SISTER: I don't know. She left the hospital against our advice. She's out there, wandering.
ME: I'm trying to optimistic here and I hope NYC is the worst of it because of the heavy use of public transportation and population density.
SISTER: That's true. There is less people packed together here and most people have cars. Maybe that will mean something.
*we walked outside and smelled the hickory smoke from two houses down. The neighbors were hosting a big cookout with bouncy room, music, and bbq. Cars were packed in the driveway and spilling out onto the street...a bright, beautiful day.*
***
More sister MD advice...
ME: masks for walking around?
SISTER: unless it's an N95 it won't stop the virus.
ME: so no mask?
SISTER: no, everyone should wear a mask.
ME: But you said it won't stop me from getting it?
SISTER: Yes, but a regular surgical mask will stop you from spreading it to others. Since a lot of people who have coronavirus are asymptomatic, if everyone wore a mask it would dramatically reduce the spread...b/c the carriers wouldn't be able to breathe it out on to others. So yes, please wear a mask.
SISTER: There are people coming into the hospital with fevers, dry coughs, severe symptoms...and I can't get them tested. Last week three of my patients passed out... one lost consciousness in the bathroom, faceplanted and knocked out five teeth. Another woman was 30, severe body aches, pneumonia, shaking...I couldn't get her tested.
ME: So what happened to her? Is she alive?
SISTER: I don't know. She left the hospital against our advice. She's out there, wandering.
ME: I'm trying to optimistic here and I hope NYC is the worst of it because of the heavy use of public transportation and population density.
SISTER: That's true. There is less people packed together here and most people have cars. Maybe that will mean something.
*we walked outside and smelled the hickory smoke from two houses down. The neighbors were hosting a big cookout with bouncy room, music, and bbq. Cars were packed in the driveway and spilling out onto the street...a bright, beautiful day.*
***
RIP FERGY
I am still thinking about Gerald Fergy's death. He was a family friend who was more like an uncle. There's no space for mourning or coming together so we are left with our own thoughts. I woke up the next morning to the sound of a weed whacker.
The lawn crew was mowing the grass outside this morning, which was a bit surreal. I put on my mask and went outside. They were smiling and going about their business. My mom told the crew 'hey you should wear a mask' and they thanked her for being concerned. We went back inside and one of the gardeners was talking to another employee, laughing it off... 'my mom is a nurse and she said back in '81 there was the same thing....it's not that big a deal...' and they continued mowing the lawn.
-around the block, residents were holding a slip n' slide party in their front yard, playing hip hop, dancing around, and bellyflopping over slicked-down tarps. They waved to me. I crossed to the other side of the street and waved back.
-Fergy was someone who was always working and helping other people, but had very little regard for his own safety and health. He took my cousins on field trips, was at every Christmas and Thanksgiving the last decade.
-I remember one time he asked me for a small favor and he looked mortified. Despite helping us out for decades, he was worried I was going to say 'no' or that it would be an inconvenience to do a small task.
- he was among the small group of ppl: the givers. There are other people who take, ask, beg, and bemoan their lack of help at every turn. And then there's the 2-5% like Fergy who never ask for anything, give, never celebrate their birthday, don't accept gifts.
- I know so many givers who do so much for others that they don't take care of themselves. My friend David worked with a school teacher who coached multiple teams, worked as a counselor, drove people to school, never had a day off. The teacher had a heart attack and died.
-how come so many of the givers, don't give to themselves? You won't be able to help anybody if you're gone.
- and as I look at the death count (up to 5,000), I make a note to also look at the recovery count: 10,000.
- thank you for the well wishes and concern. I'm fine. Just remembering a good man. Rest well, Uncle Fergy.
- oh, and STAY HOME! Save the slip n' slide parties for July...or August!
***
My sister is a doctor down here in Miami, so I asked her how things were going?
SISTER: There are people coming into the hospital with fevers, dry coughs, severe symptoms...and I can't get them tested. Last week three of my patients passed out... one lost consciousness in the bathroom, faceplanted and knocked out five teeth. Another woman was 30, severe body aches, pneumonia, shaking...I couldn't get her tested.
ME: So what happened to her? Is she alive?
SISTER: I don't know. She left the hospital against our advice. She's out there, wandering.
ME: I'm trying to optimistic here and I hope NYC is the worst of it because of the heavy use of public transportation and population density.
SISTER: That's true. There is less people packed together here and most people have cars. Maybe that will mean something.
*we walked outside and smelled the hickory smoke from two houses down. The neighbors were hosting a big cookout with bouncy room, music, and bbq. Cars were packed in the driveway and spilling out onto the street...a bright, beautiful day.*
***
More sister MD advice...
ME: masks for walking around?
SISTER: unless it's an N95 it won't stop the virus.
ME: so no mask?
SISTER: no, everyone should wear a mask.
ME: But you said it won't stop me from getting it?
SISTER: Yes, but a regular surgical mask will stop you from spreading it to others. Since a lot of people who have coronavirus are asymptomatic, if everyone wore a mask it would dramatically reduce the spread...b/c the carriers wouldn't be able to breathe it out on to others. So yes, please wear a mask.
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