I started this blog as a chronicle of the lockdown, but it’s now officially about our family’s experience of the disease too. A junior doctor called me yesterday about 5 pm to tell me that Mum’s last swab was positive and she is now on a covid ward (Hasland Ward) and needing a little more oxygen than before. The doctor says things could go either way in the next couple of days.
The news felt like being punched in the stomach because of the potential implications. My immediate concern is Dad, because Mum is in good hands. The doctor told me that Dad must self-isolate completely now.
Dad had already reported feeling so low yesterday that he hadn’t wanted to take Chloe out. After discussion with Jack and Leon, I decided to have Chloe to stay with me for a few days while we see if Dad develops any symptoms. It’s also sensible for me to stay away from him completely for now, even for the dog handovers.
Hopefully Dad will pick up soon and be able to look after Chloe himself. He seemed relieved to have one less thing to worry about, though he’ll miss the company.
On arrival at my place, I put Chloe straight in a bubble bath and soaped her down with shampoo to get rid of any unwelcome passengers. Amazingly enough, she really enjoyed it and so far seems to be treating her stay with me as a pamper break.
Chloe has the run of Mum and Dad’s house and sleeps in their bedroom. Even though Lottie is a strictly downstairs dog, I realised I’d have to waive the rules for Chloe. Now’s not the time to start training. Lottie took it quite well, even though she did give me a few “what the hell’s going on” looks.
We all had a quiet night, with Chloe slumbering peacefully on my bedroom floor. The weather’s foul today, to match the general mood.
Just spoken to Dad and he’s fine but disoriented by the situation. He’s becoming convinced that he had the virus a couple of weeks ago when he had a bad cough. Mum and Dad’s great friend Mary, an MD, suspects the same thing. As he said, he must have caught it by “foolishly” going to Sainsbury’s.
No word from the hospital, which is good news really. I’ll start phoning later when I’ve braved the drizzle with the dogs.
Last night I translated an Italian medical report about a patient in her 80s with multiple serious conditions who’d been hospitalised long term, just like Mum. She picked up covid and needed oxygen for a while, but was then weaned off and discharged to a rehabilitation ward. I took it as a good omen 🤞🤞🤞
2022 and all that 