April 7, 2020

Dear Covid-19,

I know you think you're pretty cool and popular right now. Everyone is talking about you, everyone is focused on you and what you'll do next. Well guess what? You're only popular because everyone hates you. You are ruining everyone's lives. Maybe that's just what you do. Just know, that if you had a back, there would be a big target on it right about now. Someday soon there will be a way to stop your rage on the world. Until then, just know that even though you are ruining peoples lives, we are still bigger, better, and stronger than you- and because of you, we are united in ways that the world has never seen before. So thank you for showing us what really matters. Thank you for making us become one in purpose. Thank you for showing us what really matters. It's not you, it's us.
Happy to see you go,

Kim

You might have guessed that today we have come full circle where Covid-19 is concerned with Shannon. She was tested this morning. We wait 24 hours, and during that time, Shannon is in isolation. I'm not worried about her having it, her doctors aren't worried about it either. These are mandatory precautions because of Covid regulations.  The blessing in this is that *just* this morning the rehab hospital got authorization to test for Covid-19,  and the tests to do it. Shannon was the VERY FIRST PATIENT they tested :) Go Shannon- you trend-setter. Soon all the cool patients will be getting tested. Because they are able to test at her rehab hospital, she didn't have to be transferred to the ER for testing. But if she does have it, she will have to go back to Jefferson and be in the isolated ICU.

Since Shannon is isolated, all of her therapy is on hold. She's just been sleeping and hanging out alone. Well, kind of alone. She did text me that doctors come in every 15 mins to check on her, but I'm sure that's not really the case, even if it seems like it.

We haven't really heard a lot from Shannon today. She's been sleeping a lot and hasn't responded much to our texts. When we finally did hear from her, I did some pretty bad lip reading, which we've now just turned into a game. She tries to tell us something, and we guess what she said. If we are wrong, we can either: A. mouth things back to her so she sees how hard it is and slows down to one word at a time; or B. We just insert random words that we think she's saying. B is my favorite way to play. She just rolls her eyes and laughs. We did have a VERY important conversation today.

I told her about my cousin Laura letting her daughter get a goat. Shannon LOVES goats. Laura posted a photo of her daughter holding the goat on her lap on the sofa while she did homework. That photo would have made Shannon freak out with joy. First, because- goat. Second, the goat was in the house. She reacted exactly how I expected her to. She mouthed "I WANT ONE!", and then proceeded to give me puppy dog eyes. She asked me to get her an emotional support goat. She also said that she would be so happy at the hospital, if she had a goat with her. She promised! Then I told her it's not allowed and the big fat lower lip pout happened. Good thing Lancer wasn't talking to her at the time, she would probably have a goat delivered to the hospital tomorrow. He can't handle the pout.

Tomorrow we will know about her test, and then I'm sure it will be back to therapy as usual! In the meantime, we would be so grateful if you would pray for Shannon's Covid-19 test (again) to be negative, for her cough and fever to subside, for her continued strength, and patience with herself and her care workers, for her lungs to improve so she can get off the ventilator, and for her spinal cord to heal. We are ever grateful for your faith, prayers, and love.

Today's quote I'm twisting a bit-

A goat? Hey! I've seen a goat! It passed by not to long ago. Hi, I'm Dory.