Rich is home. His infection, just in case you haven't read the title, has been diagnosed as MRSA. Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus. AKA generally bad news. Seriously bad news.
He came back provided with a large bag of supplies for wound dressing and a how-to video on his phone to show me how to change the dressing with all those other steps like unpacking and repacking gauze, irrigation to flush out the old crap and medicating to kill the next bits of crap, etc. They estimate "weeks". They wouldn't commit themselves, but maybe 3. Depends. (No, not the diapers, just it depends on his immune system, how resistant this particular organism is, how early they caught it, etc., etc., etc.)
He was as glad to get out of the hospital as they were glad for the bed. For the latter, beds are at an absolute premium right now, as we should have passed 60,000 covid cases by end of day today.** Even just this morning one person on his floor was transferred out over to the covid floor (s?) after a somewhat late diagnosis. Rich is well aware that the hospital is one of the most hazardous places to be in regards to spreading infections, though perhaps everybody's getting plenty of practice in hygiene these days. He is voluntarily self quarantining at home for another stint, just when the old one was lifted. Sigh....
But Rich was also in search of a place where he could get fed bigger meals than the hospital provided. I handed him a large bowl of chocolate chip ice cream with raspberries as soon as he was able to settle on his futon - after, of course, plugging in his phone chargers.
Don't knock how important his phone is now. I still need to watch the video he recorded at the hospital of a nurse instructing us how exactly to do the wound care properly, and be able to refer to it at need. FYI it uses a paper knock-up model. Completely G rated.
The one thing the hospital was unable to send home with him was gloves. They could only spare two pairs, which they did with apologies. We understand completely. However, I could contract MRSA if any of those critters touches a break in my skin. You may already know I'm a bit of a klutz, have terrible cuticles which often tear, and there's a biting bug infestation in the house at the moment - all choice venues for infection. After confirming with my pharmacist that they don't have any gloves either, their whole store is out and they have to be sparing for themselves, I found a source on eBay guaranteeing 2 business day delivery. It's only $3 more than the same thing from a different seller with a promised July 6 delivery. Worth it, don't you think?
Considering everything I could be carrying around with myself these days that I wouldn't think of sharing with anybody besides Mango Mussolini, and being totally unwilling to get that close to him, I contacted our club President and removed myself from club duties for a few weeks or so. Think of me as on summer "vacation", just without the vacation part.
However, once Rich is all clear and able to travel, it'll be time to hire an exterminator for the whole house. Our efforts are making a difference but not eliminating our bugs. With a three or four night stay in the offing, I'm starting to think about somewhere further north, in cooler temps and - best yet - close to one of our "dark skies" sites. It'll take a while for it all to come together, but meanwhile this congress is working on a stimulus plan involving paying people to travel at least 50 miles from home.
Just what the doctor ordered, eh? Fingers crossed.
** We just missed the 60,000 mark. but the state quit reporting updates in cases by mid morning.
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