Venting

Its been a long time since I have written. No blog. No reflection. My life has been too crazy.

My husband recently got pneumonia. In this time of coronavirus, that is even scarier than usual. He was admitted to the hospital. There was some miscommunication with my family on visiting rules. One of my sons was told one family member at a time. I checked with the hospital phone operator and was given the same information.

So I let 2 of my sons take turns visiting him first. And then I went to sign in and was told only one visitor a day! Even though we had been given the wrong info and even though they had allowed 2 of my sons to visit, I, the wife, was not allowed to visit. This was his first full day in the hospital. I was devastated. I went home and just cried and cried until I had no more tears left.

My youngest invited me to his home for dinner. I had a good time with my granddaughter, but was too nervous and worried to eat so I went back home. And cried myself to sleep.

I got up early the next day and went straight to the hospital and stayed all day. That day and every day. My husband slowly improved and finally came home a few days later. He is doing well. He is regaining some strength and an appetite and starting to act like himself.

In fact he is driving me crazy at times. Praise God.

As a former nurse, I am well aware of rules and visitor restrictions and why they exist, especially in the middle of a pandemic. However, I am his wife. Sacramentally that may not matter much to bureaucrats, but to us it means we are one person. Not 2. My husband tested negative for the virus and I had no symptoms. I would have been tested if they had wanted it but they didn’t.

They made the mistake of allowing my 2 boys up there. But my husband and I suffered the consequences. They did not even express sympathy to us or remorse for their mistakes.

I was livid. And sick with worry.

I am anxiously awaiting the paperwork from the hospital which should include a survey of how we felt about his care. The nurses and doctors were awesome, but the administration needs some work.

Rules are important. In this pandemic I have followed all of them. Masks and sanitizers and social distancing. Like everyone else, my husband and I have given up a lot and lost a lot.

But we have not lost our feelings of empathy for others. We have not lost the meaning of what it means to be human and what respect for human life means in all of its connotations.

There are a few people in this world who still need to be reminded of what it means to be human.

And so I pray. For all of us.

Tagged as: blog, family, prayer, reflection