A New Kind of Life with Corona

Yes, Columbus, GA, may seem like calm backwater South compared to bustling cities like Las Vegas, but there is still fear and uncertainty as to when the virus will come to attack here.  “Will come” – not when it might come, for the prediction is that no area in the world is absolutely “safe.”

Obviously, Brad and I realize our added risk of old age and, with Brad, underlying medical problems.  So, we do not plan to gather with large groups.  I did go to our nearby Wal-Mart yesterday to do some stock-up shopping so I wouldn’t have to go out so often in the future.  It was extremely crowded, and the sign I was definitely in the South – can you guess which shelves looked the emptiest?  Grits!!!

Unfortunately, last night we had to go to the one place a person doesn’t want to be to avoid bugs of any type – the hospital emergency room.  Some routine blood work Brad had in the afternoon turned up a dangerously high potassium count that required immediate attention that evening. Thanks to our wise decision to move close to family, we had a convenient ride to the hospital, with Angela and Steve being Johnny’s-on-the-spot.  I have taken over driving responsibilities since Brad gave up his license, but some vision decline makes night driving unsafe for me.

Hoping to have a short waiting time with a roomful of sick people – and only some wearing masks – did not come to pass.  It was over 3 exhausting hours until an emergency room curtained-off cubicle became open so Brad could lie down.  The delay wasn’t because of coronavirus fears and people with symptoms wanting to be tested – seemed to be none of that.  Actually, it seemed to be due to gang violence – there was at least one gunshot victim, police all over, and the hospital was put on lockdown – I guess in case that violence would follow into the emergency room.

We didn’t know many details, but the guy in the cubicle across from Brad seemed to have a foot injury and there was a cop sitting next to him at all times.  When he was finally leaving, limping, escorted out by two cops, a medical supervisor asked, “Can he take crutches?”

“Not where he is going,” snapped one of the cops.  Oh, he wasn’t the victim of the violence but a perp that was shot by the police.

Actually, all this drama made the visit a little interesting.  However, it majorly delayed getting to Brad’s problem.  But after an IV and multiple blood tests and long waits, good news came back.  His potassium level was normal – maybe the earlier high one was a mistake??

At 4 a.m. we quickly passed through the still-crowded waiting room to go out in fresh warm GA air while we waited a few minutes for Steve to pick us up.  We were ready to go back to our cozy apartment and be hopeful that we hadn’t picked up any bug – Corona or otherwise!