Dead Serious

I really really want to beg everyone who works with people as clients or patients to be very thoughtful. If you’re sick with something infectious, don’t go spreading it. Take sick leave or if you can’t, wear a mask and tell the person you’re working with or will be working on, that you’re not well so they can decide for themselves if they want to risk getting sick.

What this sweet lady told her relative is what I mailed to my son’s physiotherapist yesterday. We went on Friday, and during the session? I noticed that she was coughing and sniffing quite a bit. I even asked if she had allergies or sinus issues. It didn’t even occur to me that someone would work with clients while sick. She said no, she’s “at the tail end of a cold.” Ie. She was sick.

Instead of running out of there -don’t know how long we’d already spent in her when I asked- I thought to myself, “Oh well, that’s good that she isn’t feel too sick.”

I’m also dense. It’s not only her fault.

I should have run. But we finished the session.

And I brought her ‘cold’ to two daughters who got sick on Monday. and took it into my body. The children are not too bad but I’ve got a hectically sore throat and it keeps closing up. Like..sticking together so I can’t breathe at night. It was a bad night. And my nose is super runny and blocked. A cough has begun today. The very thing my pulmonologist warned against. An upper respiratory tract infection is a matter of life and death for someone in my situation. To treat people knowing you have one. And even if it doesn’t lead to death, it weakens the lungs further. I even told her during the appointment that I have interstitial lung disease with fibrosis when she asked about my restrictions. I’m frustrated. It’s such a stupid way to get sick. Getting it from someone who KNOWS they are sick but instead of giving patients the option to postpone, risks their patients’ health so they can make more money.

My people know how I’ve always complained and hated that- like the lady above- when I get sick, I get sicker than others. It’s scary, listening, knowing the next video after the one I posted. And it’s eerie, knowing she too felt that her calling was to be a help to others. Thats me. I feel I’m here to help others, to bear their burdens.

I had been feeling thankful. I survived Covid. I survived other infections which were so bad I was given inhalers and had chest X-rays for. But my lungs are worse today than last year and than previous years. It will be even harder to survive them and I plan on doing so. I ordered N95 masks to wear in winter in the store and church- if I go. And a pulse oximeter so I can check my blood oxygen at various times (You usually tend to need extra oxygen first at night and when walking/ busy. I do struggle at night but I want solid numbers before I go back to the pulmonologist. It’s not a big struggle.) Have sanitizer in the car. But I didn’t know the first source of infection would be the physiotherapist. I didn’t think to at least wear the disposable masks I wear to see my pulmonologist who also wears a mask.

And so, I ask you to please be more mindful of how your actions will impact others who are vulnerable. Nobody deserves to catch a cold or flu anyway. But for some, every single infection can cause death.

Just like what happened Billie ‘BJ’ Thomas, the lady above, who did HER best to stay safe, thought she was doing well with her lung disease, but was killed by Covid 19- as announced by her sister in the last video posted on her channel.

Your thoughtfulness can preserve a life. Think of it that way and do the right thing. All I needed was the option to attend when she’d fully recovered…That’s all.

Thank you for reading