What is likelihood from dying from the flu? But we get a flu vaccine. What is the risk of tetanus? But we get a tetanus vaccine. And you wear the uniform, you get every vaccine known to man.
You get the vaccine so you don't get the bug. But whether or not you are at risk for it being a debilitating disease is up to you to decide, and the risk goes up the older you get and/or the more comorbidities you have. So for you right now, the risk may not warrant the vaccine. But for Grammy and Gramps? We have enough data to tell us that they might die or at least get sick to a debilitating state.
Good point (but I keep forgetting my flu shot).
My 94 yr old grandmother lived at home alone and tested positive from COVID 20 Nov from a visiting nurse, who treated her open wounds on her legs (not sure what the deal was but her poor circulation caused skin to rupture and not heal leading to skin grafts which did work but the dressings needed changing). She had mild symptoms (99 fever, malaise, slight congestion) but no shit by Thanksgiving, she claimed she felt fine, just a little tired. She was in GREAT spirits and excited to hear about the smoked turkey and we talked politics (
@amlove21 it was a massive Democrat bash fest) as she was very much a Nixon-Republican. My oldest was shocked that she was doing so well because COVID kicked her ass as a 32 year old and wondered how in hell this old lady was doing so well. My grandmother was looking forward to Sunday, 29 Nov when she would no longer be on quarantine and get visits from my Aunt and Uncle (they had visited her before her positive test and they too got the Wu flu).
Friday night (27 Nov) she was rushed to the ER because she had trouble breathing. I'm not sure the exact timeline but I spoke to her on the phone in her room but the O2 machine made it very difficult for her to hear. We made small talk and asked about her great-granddaughters. A few days later, my aunt was admitted to the hospital (roomed a few doors away) because her pulse/ox was in the upper 70s. My uncle, in his early 70s, has just been sick.
Sometime my grandmother got the antibody plasma therapy and it seemed to be working VERY well: they pulled her off the BPAB and put her back on the nasal O2 on 7 Dec. The docs were having difficulty controlling her AFib and keeping her heart rate under 150 but were hopeful. My aunt was discharged and was able to swing by my grandmother's room on her way home (she's on O2 but at home and uncle is still fine considering).
I got an email from my cousin yesterday around 1400 that things had quickly deteriorated and our grandmother had had enough: no more O2 and stop the meds. My other cousin set up Zoom call for all the grandkids to be with our grandmother virtually. I got home just in time to see her in her bed apparently unaware and breathing very deeply but regularly. As I signed in, all the grandkids started being, well, like me, laughing, joking, and making fun of each other but telling that tough old lady "Hey were all here." No shit, her breathing rate increased but still deep. My oldest (COVID recovered) messaged her and the nurse read the message, which was touching and sweet but...had a zinger (she done lern'd gud).
"Grandma we love you and thank you. Oh, by the way, when you see Grandpa, please tell him it was (her other cousin) that broke the garage window and it wasn't me." WE ALL DIED LAUGHING. She allowed people who were feeling very sad to feel joy/happiness and revel in giving another family member shit for keeping a secret for YEARS.
We all noticed my grandmother's respiratory rate slowing but still very deep. I texted my cousin that her body was fighting to stay alive and it was just natural but very soon the rate really slowed and the exchanges were not as deep. Her neck started slowly showing signs of hypoxia and I told my cousin that she's not getting enough O2 and was most likely unconscious by then and expect one deep gasp before she went. Her chin turned blue and her breathing just stopped.
I told my cousin that our grandmother was VERY secure in her faith and she was a very strong Baptist, who was not afraid of death because she knew what would happen to her soul. She just worried about us...ALWAYS.
After she passed, I texted my family "Your grandmother is with her husband and daughter."
My point, and I do have one, is that shit happens. As much as we like to think we're in control, we're not. Someone can take all the precautions, wear the PPE, do all the "right" things, and still get killed. Or a 5-year old could just be out riding his bike and his neighbor could walk up and execute him. I'm not saying go play in traffic but rather
understand the risks, mitigate them, but ALWAYS ensure your loved ones know where you stand so that when you leave this world, you have no regarts.
Finally, I'm a believer that the sadness someone feels after the death of a loved one is selfish. Meaning that I'm sad that I will not feel the personal happiness felt hearing old stories about my WWI great-grandfather (her father), hearing what it was like growing up in small town OK coming out of the depression, how this lady met this hillbilly driving a milk wagon, and how she moved to LA because her dad could find work before WWII broke out and how the hillbilly moved to WA also to find work. I'm sad that I won't hear how that hillbilly intentionally got suspended (you can see where I get it) from work (mission essential and couldn't get time off) so he could go to LA to grab his fiance and return to WA before the suspension expired. I'm sad for me but proud that my grandmother showed all of us how to die with dignity and faith in God will enable us to meet any situation as long as we have faith in our Lord.
