- J
- J
Hi gang,
I am so grateful for the continued support of my village. It really means a lot. As many of you know my journey back from COVID has been arduous but I have not given up!
For those that do not know the back story. In 2023 I was admitted to the hospital because my bout with COVID had taken a turn for the worse. It started mild in mid-February but by March 3rd I could not shake my high fever of 105 degrees. As I was being wheeled to the triage nurse’s area. I prayed silently that I would walk out of the hospital alive. No, I was not being melodramatic. My fear is derived from being a sufferer of an autoimmune disease called Rheumatoid Arthritis. I knew the reality of compounding COVID with a compromised immune system can be a deadly combination.
As you can see, my prayer was answered but not without a challenging path. I spent three months in hospital on the road to recovery.
During that time, I:
- Celebrated my birthday unconscious on a ventilator
- Spent a month and a half in the ICU fighting for my life
- Had a tracheotomy to keep my lungs saturated with oxygen
- Had to learn to swallow drink, and, eat
- Had to learn how to stand and walk after being in a hospital bed for so long.
- Cried many days because I could not do the most basic things by myself like brushing my teeth.
- Missed out on the first 3 months of my youngest’s Sophomore year because I was bedridden.
- Cried during events like my child’s Choir concert, my daughter’s Sweet Sixteen party, and even pulmonary rehabilitation sessions because I couldn't believe I'd made it out of the house
- Have learned every single respiratory apparatus known to man. I have been living on oxygen 24/7 since last March 2023.
Unfortunately, my insurance only covers oxygen tanks as a portable source to use. So far, it has been okay with that fact. However, I was depressed because I couldn't fly to Pennsylvania to attend my oldest daughter's graduation. In addition, I was afforded an opportunity to be a representative at an Arthritis Foundation conference in Washington, D.C. this fall.
Why, you ask? cylinder oxygen tanks cannot be taken on a plane. You can only use an FAA approved portable oxygen concentrator like the one in the picture above.
I cannot afford this expense because we are still paying for our portion of my 3 month hospital stay.
I have reconciled in my mind that I will probably be on oxygen for the rest of my life. But, I would love to have more independence and freedom to expand my options.