PSA, Right From The Horse's Mouth

Day 51, awaiting the call for Anna's double lung transplant.

Today, driving in the car, listening to Ronn Owens on KGO. Anna and I both do this, listen to radio. She mainly listens to KGO and I go back and forth between KGO and NPR. We got this gene from my mom, Grammie. I was raised with the radio on. At that time it was Owen Span. My mom loved him. He was a part of my life for many years. She stopped listening to KGO when Owen Span left and Ronn Owens took over. It was never the same for mom. But, I kept listening and Ronn Owens was visiting in my kitchen for many years as the children grew up. When you are with children all day every day you need some adult stimulation and conversation, and talk radio is pretty good at giving a lift to the day for stay at home moms. One day Anna realized that it was not so uncool to listen, in fact it was interesting, imagine that. Then she realized that she was so much like her mom, like I was like my mom. We both enjoy the radio together now.

Anyway, with KGO on, the discussion was about should you go to work if you are sick? What a ridiculous thing to have to even talk about. How can people think that it is OK to go to public service jobs when they are ill? Many people called in even a Dr. and ER nurse saying they go to work sick. They think they are indispensable. I could not call in as we were driving and had a destination but I wish I could. I would have said,

"I am amazed that people who deal with the public think it is OK to go to work infected with a virus. This is how epidemics get started. This also shows no understanding or compassion for the many people in the community who have compromised immune systems due to chemo therapy or other treatments and lung conditions such as COPD or cystic fibrosis. Does anyone consider those that can not handle a simple virus like the healthy? To many in our community a virus may cause a very serious illness, hospitalization and even death. No one is considering that. When my daughter who has cystic fibrosis is in the public she is constantly scanning for a sniffle or cough as tell tale signs that a virus may be lurking. This is terrifying for her and will mean the hospital if she contracts even a simple virus. Not only the inconsideration of the chronically ill, but also the lack of consideration of ourselves is troubling. Why can we not take a day or two when we are not feeling well. Why has this society not allowed us to nurture ourselves when we are not well. A day or two on the couch, in fact three days on the couch is the best medicine for all of us. It is thought that a virus is most contagious for the first three days. Can't we take care of ourselves as well as consider the concerns of those that struggle to be able to go out into public and need to feel safe so that they can go to stores and buy goods?" Wish I could have called in. You got to hear my rant instead.

Later we decided to do a preventative measure to get it out of the way. We planned to do this one day, but we had not planned it today. We had our flu shot. We had the time and we were going to Safeway. If you get your flu shot there you get a 10% off coupon for your next order of groceries. After the troubling discussion about all of the neurotic people who can not stay home when they are sick because work is so important, we decided we better get it done sooner than later. If the call comes tonight or tomorrow it would be a while until we got it done. Hey rest of the family, it is time for your flu shot too.............

Are you planning on a flu shot this year? It is a good idea. And since I am on this, do you wash your hands as soon as you come home from the store? It is a good idea too. Wash your hands often, it will help to prevent the spread of viruses. Who wants a stupid cold anyway? And next time you consider going out with that drippy nose and hacking cough, please reconsider. You can handle that and you will recover but you may unknowingly pass it on to another who will not have the same reserve and will greatly suffer.

Enough, this is my Public Service Announcement right from the horse's mouth as they say, while we begin to end the summer months and enter into Fall and the beginning of the cold and flu season. Hope you stay well...........