Because I held a license as a radiologic technologist from the state of Florida for so many years, it seems as if I am still on their mailing list as I am getting email updates with information for healthcare providers. Here is one of the latest with information on if you get it, now what?
Isn't it wonderful how people are recognizing doctors and nurses? Yet, having worked in a hospital for a long time, I know that there are far too many of the healthcare TEAM that have been ignored in this outpouring of love. Respiratory Therapists, chief amongst them! They are the ones that manage all of these intubations and respirators. Phlebotomists draw blood most days. EKGs are a constant need, as are x-rays of those infected lungs, taken bedside which requires a huge effort. Just putting the film behind a critically ill patient is a chore. Certified Nursing Assistants often bear the larger burden of caring for the ill and are paid little to do so. HOUSEKEEPING! It takes them all!
I remember during the AIDS crisis when I worked a 16 hour shift on Saturday at a small hospital in the worst part of town. Bruce would watch the boys, who were very young at the time, and I would man the x-ray department for many hours solo. Anyway, our hospital was the only one in town who would admit AIDS patients, something looking back on seems completely crazy, but it must be remembered that knowledge was slim and people were frightened. Nevertheless, one Saturday afternoon, I was called to a dying patient's bedside for a chest x-ray, something I'd done many times before. Bringing the machine, lifting the patient to put a super heavy cassette behind them and hoping I had all my settings correct so there would be no repeats. Downstairs, in the department, I waited by the processor to check my film. Dumbstruck by what I saw, I called the radiologist at home to describe what I was seeing. One lung looked about the size and shape of a kidney, obviously not a good thing. Trusting my judgement, he put in motion a chest tube placement to re-inflate the lung. Sadly, most of the time that was a stop gap measure because so many of our patients died, some alone.
That was long ago, with equipment that would not be recognized by today's technologists. Waiting for a film to process? Not happening anymore. Instantaneous in today's digital world and how great is that? Pretty darn great as is so much of today's medical equipment. Even thermometers? Those of us of a certain age, well remember waiting three minutes for the temperature to register. So, although this is a crisis of the first magnitude, at least the equipment being used is first rate. That is, if there is enough of it, right? That said, all of this state of the art equipment is expensive and it is no wonder most hospitals are ill equipped to handle the number of patients as the need has never been there before. Of course there are "experts" who speak loudly saying otherwise, but in my opinion, there are still no "experts" when it comes to this disease. Or is it a disease? I'm thinking infection is the more appropriate word, but let's check. Nope, I am wrong. Disease it is.
The truth is, it's a tsunami out there right now. A few weeks ago I was made aware of the homemade masks, asking Michelle if she'd like me to make her one when she visits her sister who is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. She said she was good so I set the idea aside. But then, things have kept getting worse and it turns out the idea is that wearing a mask if you need to go out in public is better than nothing. So, after watching a few videos, enlisting Bruce as the fabric and elastic cutter, we made some masks on Friday. The video we followed suggested using non-woven interfacing in the construction, so scrounging through all of my supplies, our output was 13 masks.
Yesterday we began work again, making another 12 or so, giving them all away including one to our postman who was thrilled. If someone had told me a month ago that people would be overjoyed to receive a mask, thee is no doubt I would not have believed it.
It's the least we can do during this time when we all feel so hopeless.
Gasoline, holy cow! Because I've rarely ventured from home for weeks now, seeing the sign for $1.79 was really something. In a few years, when all of this is behind us, and of course we pray that it will be, when I reread some of these posts, I'm sure I will be amazed.
All of this sewing has kept me from my camera but I did finally see our duck family last evening. Instead of them spending all of their time right outside our back door, they have been exploring so I'd not seen them for two days. Now that I have, it is my pleasure to announce that all ten ducklings are still swimming! They blend right in don't they?
You will be happy to learn that Nancy arrived safely although you might be surprised to learn that traffic was extremely heavy heading North. Lots of snowbirds heading back North or so it seemed.
Do you know anyone who has had Coronavirus? For me it has gone something like, a friend of a friend kind of thing. Old and young alike. Michelle, who is originally from New York has an extended family member die. :(
Darn it is scary.
your friend,
Gail
1 comment:
Very nice of you and Bruce to make these for friends and your mailman! Stay safe!
I am very worried about my cousin's daughter in London. She just became a doctor last week and she has been thrown into the front lines of the fight at The Royal London Hospital in the Covid-19 A & E dept. (ER) What a way to start her young career!
Jim
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