On Monday, October 11, I didn’t go to work.  I had a sore throat and laryngitis.  I did go to the local pharmacy and picked up an OTC dayquil/nyquil combo pack and some cough drops. On Tuesday, I didn’t feel any better so I stayed home again.  On Wednesday, I went to the doctor.  Clearly something was going on.  When I arrived at the doctor’s office, he took one look at me, checked my blood oxygen, and called 911 for an ambulance to take me to the hospital.  When I arrived at the hospital, I was put on a ventilator, feeding tube and central line from Wed 13th thru Thurs 21st.  I have no memory of anything between arriving at the hospital and waking up from the ventilator 8 days later.  I’m told I nearly died, but you couldn’t prove it by me.  I was released from the hospital late yesterday (10/24).  There’s this stranger living in my body.  She doesn’t smoke.  She doesn’t even breathe very well.  She uses portable oxygen.  She gets winded walking from one end of the house to the other.  But she will continue to improve every day.

My daughter is here from Texas.  My sister had a POA while I was incapacitated.  My living will is missing, likely the victim of a burglary last spring when my strongbox was stolen.  I won’t be going back to work before Thanksgiving, according to my doctor.  I’m very glad I have AFLAC.