Our Covid Story.

Hello friends! I pray this finds you happy and healthy. As many of you know, we had that rona visitor and I’ve decided, you can hear many stories from lots of different people, about the struggles and heartache covid brings, but, you don’t really know til you know. Now we know. And we are still praying for those of you whose outcome was not like Mr. Colquhoun’s.

He spiked a fever on 1/30 in the late evening, after we’d been to a family dinner a bit earlier. A dinner that included a couple that is our age. They had not really been going anywhere or seeing anybody other than immediate family. One other gentleman a bit older than us and a pregnant gal, who luckily (?) had already had it. A gaggle of kids and a few other “kids” between the ages of 31-43. But basically, family. Luckily, nobody got it from him, including me.

The next morning we trekked to the hospital for a nasal swab and within 45 min got the positive call. 2 weeks quarantine for both of us. Okay, we can do that. I learned how to use the grocery pick up at the walmarts so we were set. The first week was unremarkable, he ran pretty good fevers but not really any other symptoms. And I sat. A lot. By the following Saturday, his o2 level was low. Really low, like 74. We double checked it with our neighbors meter…74. He called his doctor and was told to get to the emergency room. So off we went. 4 hours later, they decided to admit him. I ran home and threw underwear, tee shirts and socks in a bag along with deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste. Oh and a Sonic cheeseburger…

We talked a bit that night, I could not be with him. He told me the on call doctor told him he’d be there for 5 days. 5 days!! We didn’t realize he was that sick. The next afternoon, he reported, “I must not be getting any better, they’re talking about sending me to Wichita.” I was dumbfounded. Within 2 hours, he was on his way. I still couldn’t see him.

He arrived at Wesley and was immediately placed on a bipap machine with 100% oxygen. When the doctor called around 6:00, he was down to 75% oxygen. That machine is loud. It covered his whole face. I could hear him, in the background, hollering, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” It was heartwrenching. Later that evening, he called me! It was the best phone call ever. We were both so scared of the unknown. And relying on people neither of us knew, to relate his progress.

The next 4 days consisted of lots of praying, answering messages and phone calls, keeping family/friends up to date and especially feeling so blessed for all our tribe. He continued to rally and on Thursday 2/11, was moved out of ICU and into a regular room. Best day ever. Except for the next day, when I got to go pick him up!

He is doing amazingly well, considering. Some things changed, such as, controlling his diabetes with his diet. Now he takes 4 shots of insulin daily. We both had to take a crash course on Diabetes 101. 3 squares a day, 4 finger pricks and shots. He goes back to work tomorrow, 2/22.

During those 2 weeks when I wasn’t going anywhere and seeing no one, i still got up every morning and followed routine. Specifically, putting my bra on. You know you’re old when you wear all the undergarments for no reason. I never even thought, “I don’t have to dress today.” I made a full pot of coffee every day, and drank it all by myself. I made tuna casserole (not his favorite) on Tuesday, when I found out he was gonna be okay, I realized I was starving!

It was a very scary time for our family and we appreciate all your prayers, positive thoughts, calls, texts, messages, cards, etc. You never know how many friends you have til you need them. We needed you and you rocked it!

Please stay well, my friends. If you need us, just call. We’ll be there. I’ll be talking to you!