COVID is not the best topic to post about at the start of a new year, but a couple of conversations and the loss of an old friend these past few days keep ringing in my head.
Here we are starting our third year of this scourge, and like most people, I remain confused and conflicted. Increasingly, I do not know what to think or whom I should believe, but the numbers never lie. It is here. It is back again, although as another variant that, at least for now, seems less potent. However, slowly we see hospitals sounding the data alarms as both ER visits (please do not go there for testing) and admissions are rising.
I got COVID after having a third shot, which should reinforce the shot does not prevent the disease, but it only lessens the severity. I am one of the lucky ones. Last week I lost an old, dear friend from COVID. When the number of infected drops, we think all is better, yet it still takes people from our lives.
One of the two conversations I had recently was with a friend now in rehabilitation, having extreme difficulty using his muscles. He cannot walk or even stand after being in the ICU for an extended period with COVID. The residual effects from this can be some form of critical illness neuropathy. That will require a long-haul recovery, but it is a data point we never hear about.
My second conversation was with a medical professional who has been on the front lines of this scourge for two years now. Imagine yourself being face to face with the traumas of this disease. Imagine seeing patient after patient being admitted, then maybe PCU, then ICU, then fully ventilated, then fading alone, no family at your side; passing with your only companions being the incredible doctors, nurses and other personnel who had struggled so hard to save you. For these medical frontline personnel, their reward is now another variant and the strong possibility of another surge. We need to start considering the stress placed upon these workers. PTSD can come about for many reasons.
One way to honor and assist both our patients and our health workers is to tune out the media and try to forget just how politicized this disease has become. The disease does not care about politics. It is indiscriminate in where it goes and whom it affects. It is agnostic and indifferent to what we think.
A second way is to have less opinions on this, or at least refrain from expressing them. I have concluded the DC experts have been winging this for the most part. I hope they know what they do not know, but they seem not to have been willing to say that. They need to trust the people more. Be honest. We can handle the truth, but the more obfuscation we hear, the more political this becomes.
My resolutions in 2022 include being more caring for those affected by this disease. One might not know who just lost a loved one or has someone close in the ICU. One might not know if someone in the next restaurant booth might have just coded a patient in the ICU and needs a break from it all. Let us lower both our tone and our volume.
As we enter this third year of COVID, I am resolving to be more compassionate in general, but I will try harder to walk in the shoes of others, even as I am not sure where their journeys have been.
Blessings to all. Let us pray COVID ends soon. Pray for our healthcare workers. Despite 24/7 TV news and social media, my opinions about this disease are not more accurate than the conflicting experts. Still, I know no one needs to hear what I think about pathology and infectious disease treatments. My doctorate is in the social sciences, not the natural ones.
Dr. Ed Moore served for many years as the president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) and has served in both the legislative and executive branches of Florida government. Prior to ICUF, Dr. Moore was staff director for Policy, for Worker’s Compensation, for Medical Liability and for Public Safety and Security in the Florida House of Representatives. Dr. Moore also worked in the private sector for 21 years and has experience in areas ranging from multi-state commercial development and utilities, public safety, mental health, corrections, education at all levels, to higher education.
