Holy cow—my friend and long-time Yankton teacher and speech coach turned photographer Paul Harens got a really bad case of coronavirus:
When he tested positive, Harens received a dose of Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum anti-viral medication.
“They did that, gave me steroids and I had oxygen, too,” Harens told the Press & Dakotan. “Then they sent me home because I was better — for a couple days.”
Six days later, Harens said, he went downhill.
“On the 29th, my wife said I was being ‘really goofy’ and she thought I was hallucinating,” he said. “The doctor said, ‘You take him to the hospital immediately.’”
Harens would be hospitalized for the next two weeks.
“I don’t remember the first few days at all,” he said. “I had a temperature of 104°. I guess they were waiting.”
Hospital staff that attended Harens wore full personal protective equipment (PPE), and he was not allowed any visitors, not even his wife. However, he still talked to her every day by phone, he said.
His oxygenation was bad enough that doctors considered putting Harens, 69, on a ventilator, but decided against it. The nurses checked him regularly for pneumonia, which, luckily, he did not develop [Cora Van Olson, “‘The Face of Covid-19′: Yankton Man Discusses the Impact of His Severe Covid Illness Experience,” Yankton Press & Dakotan, updated 2020.12.25].
Harens is at home; lugging around a 40-pound oxygen tank that compensates for the 30 pounds of Paul that he lost due to feeling like complete crap and losing his senses of taste and smell. But he made sure he participated from his hospital bed in the effort to push the Yankton City Commission to show some good sense and require masks. Now Harens has some straight talk for the knuckleheads saying they’d rather get coronavirus than take the vaccine:
“I think that would be the stupidest thing in the world, because you don’t know how it’s going to affect you,” said Harens, who added that he always wore a mask and social distanced [Van Olson, 2020.12.25].
Harens also warns us not to let the vaccination drive lure us away from other good community health practices to prevent the spread of coroanvirus until we do all have our shots:
One thing Harens said he had plenty of time to do in the hospital was to read up on COVID, and though he does not know how he became infected, he understands the threat much better.
“It can happen more than once,” he said. “So wear the damn mask and keep the social distance” [Van Olson, 2020.12.25].
While Harens recuperates (I’m immensely glad you are recuperating, Paul!), let’s all take his advice: roll up our sleeves when its our turn, and keep staying home and masking up until we’ve all had our turn.
From TPM today….
The United States recorded 3,725 new coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday as hospitalization grew to more than 124,600 patients packing medical facilities nationwide, CNN reported early Wednesday.
Somebody damn well better do something quick or noem believing dummies will go the way of DoDo birds and good riddance. They’d be too stoopid to survive in present circumstances
The Qs and trumpies are ignorant and stupid on top of that. You can’t educate a Republican so why bother? Just wear your mask when out, social distance, and wash your hands. My wife also gives me wipes to use while out, its really simple. Shots are coming soon but with DeSantis you never know. In some ways he’s worse than your Gnome. They will be a lovely couple in 2024.
Paul was a teacher of mine. I had no idea he was sick. Thanks for this, Cory.
Not good: “The poll found that almost twice as many Democrats, or 49 percent, expressed willingness to take the vaccine as soon as it’s available, compared with 28 percent of Republicans and 42 percent of independents.
But 45 percent of Democrats, Republicans and independents all said they would wait a bit before getting immunized.”
At least Noem says she will wait her turn and take the vaccine, but will she promote it? Will she mandate state employees get it? When the polio vaccine came out only 50% wanted to take it.
Trump recently polled as the most admired man in America. Insanity has been normalized like the poor fellow who blew himself up, a large group of people have been radicalized and believe conspiracy theories. He’s encouraging it Big Sister Kristi is nothing more than a Trump girl how many deaths is she responsible for?
Sounds like the same timeline that resulted in the demise of that 41 year old congressman (R) from Louisiana.
Remember those polls had Biden ahead by 15 to 20 points. Polls are for holding up wire, that’s all…. or is that poles. Perhaps a poll on that.
New York Times 12.30.20, has this out about the long term effects of covid 19. Just because you think your case is mild like Mr. Harens, there are thousands and thousands that linger for months with symptoms and hospitalizations. This may break our healthcare system without intervention soon.
“The routine things in Chris Long’s life used to include biking 30 miles three times a week and taking courses toward a Ph.D. in eight-week sessions.
But since getting sick with the coronavirus in March, Mr. Long, 54, has fallen into a distressing new cycle — one that so far has landed him in the hospital seven times.
Periodically since his initial five-day hospitalization, his lungs begin filling again; he starts coughing uncontrollably and runs a low fever. Roughly 18 days later, he spews up greenish-yellow fluid, signaling yet another bout of pneumonia.
Soon, his oxygen levels drop and his heart rate accelerates to compensate, sending him to a hospital near his home in Clarkston, Mich., for several days, sometimes in intensive care.”
Wear a mask, stay home if you can and don’t be foolish if you have to work or get out for errands.
Can’t shoot everyone at once. Those that are in danger of getting the virus and healthcare workers should go first. I have shown no signs and haven’t been tested. I am at risk, but I am not in a hurry. Let the backlogs clear, first.
Surpassed 20 million cases today.
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
20,034,309
Deaths:
347,713
I wonder whether if Noem, or even Haugaard had a crisis like him if the forthcoming legislative session would be changed in format to show the seriousness of the times. We are faced with VERY STUPID people in control of the state government. Denial until the last moment is their answer, and the pretense of being stalwart, tough, common-sense. mmmmm, no thanks, I’ll wear a mask and stay in my bubble!
Life has ended. Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island tv fame died of Covid at age 82. One of the true mysteries of my lifetime, which woman did you prefer, Ginger or Mary Ann, can never have a definitive answer.
They all suffered stereotyping from that show. Dawn Wells was more willing to accept the Mary Ann persona than Tina Louise now the only surviving cast member but if you listen to “It’s Time For Tina” it’s obvious she willingly embraced the sex symbol icon. There’s nothing wrong with a nice combination.
https://thewritelife61.com/2018/07/16/mary-ann-vs-ginger-dawn-wells-and-tina-louise/
drumpf/noem body count…
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
20,215,086
Deaths:
350,742
Over 3k more bodies today.
Good anaslysis, HC.
The vaccine is now being destroyed because of poor handling. How inept the republican party of death has become. Quick, someone call China and have them get this circus organized.
“The frustration that vaccines are not showing up in the quantity, and on the schedule, that states were promised continues to grow. The distribution was called a logistical nightmare months ago, and despite a stack of promises from Donald Trump, that nightmare is coming to pass as federal sources utterly fail to get the vaccine where it’s needed in the appropriate quantity. As a result, three weeks after the first vaccine became available, the rate of vaccination is still running well below the rate of new COVID-19 cases. Getting 80% of the populace vaccinated at the current rate would take a decade … only it wouldn’t matter, because long before then the vaccine would have ceased to function for most of those previously vaccinated.
Handling of the vaccine has been so dreadful that Texas is being forced to throw away thousands of doses because they were allowed to get too warm in transit. Meanwhile, concerns about keeping vaccines frozen have other shipments on hold. Based on current data, Joe Biden’s nominee for surgeon general has indicated that the odds of the vaccine reaching the general public by spring are actually getting worse. Plans to vaccinate 20 million Americans by year’s end now seem to be “out of reach.” Washington Post 12.30.20
When is this nightmare going to explode into full blown fascism ? How is it that when Luke Letlow one of their own dies of covid before he could be sworn in to congress, he was barely acknowledged.
Rumor has it that 100 moronic sophomoric gops plan to challenge the electoral college and go on the record supporting the fantasy of the mentally disturbed morally bankrupt piece of dung that inhabits the oval office.
Noem down in Georgia again mask-less and close up face to face with numerous excited Republicans while swapping Covid-19 germs. She could easily bring the latest fast-moving new variant of the coronavirus back to South Dakota.
https://www.timesenterprise.com/news/ga_fl_news/s-d-governor-stumps-for-gop-senators-in-valdosta/article_2e41a9e3-b0c9-5ad3-81d4-3280c7005f60.html
This latest strain is 50-70% more contiguous and simple math tells us that makes it 50-70% more deadly. More infected is more dead. How careless of you Kristi!
Would someone with better composition skills than me please write letters-to-editor to several Georgian news organizations and educate those voters down there on the truth about our worthless governor?
3808 bodies counted yesterday, December 30th due to covid.
Why did Noem not not hold her weekly COVID press conference on Wed? If I had an elderly family member in a SD nursing home that died from the Covid infestations going on there, I would want better leadership, no wait – just some communication, empathy and concern, from the Governor to address this serious issue. Part of a politician’s job is to be there for their constituents during Hard times. I know it’s hard to criticize your governor, SD Republicans, but for god’s sakes, showing some compassion and empathy would help during the grief process of losing a loved one to Covid.
Just think what a Sutton Governorship would have been – less South Dakotans dying from COVID, Federal COVID money being used responsibly to the PEOPLE that really need it, like teachers and frontline workers instead of stupid tourist commercials being played in MN nonstop, no silly $400,000 fences built at the Governor’s House, no embarassing Meth We’re on it National jokes. We all know Billie Sutton would never have taken the voter-approved Cannabis Amendment to Court. Such different times you would be in SD. Kristi Noem is expensive for SD, how many millions of tax payer dollars has she wasted?
Republicans yell “you lie” at Obama’s SOS. Then Beohnor obstructs ACA. Then McConnell refuses to hear advise and consent Obama SCOTUS nominee Garland.
Noem has learned there is no accountability for such abusive political law/norm breaking.
Republican’s have created a mutant strain of politics.
Republicans will reap their “just deserts”! (It will take more than ‘a spoonful of sugar’ to help the medicine go down”) also….