Well God saved my life again… 3rd time is a charm I guess but this one was rough!

Thought I had a terrible sinus infection. After a week, I was not keeping any food down. eventually kidney meds still in capsule form came up twice. I was nervous that my body wasn’t getting the anti-rejection meds I needed to maintain my kidney transplant. I went to the ER and I had COVID and my kidney function was decreasing. They transported me to the downtown Cleveland Clinic by ambulance. I was admitted to the COVID unit but within a couple hours I was sent to the ICU unit. Steve had COVID so he was not able to come with me.

My body got hit hard by this illness. Brooke sat with me for the first week in ICU. She was a wonderful companion. I am not sure how she juggled the kids and house and being in Cleveland. Once he was well, Steve came up to sit with me every day after he recovered from his own COVID.

I had COVID delirium for about 4 days and that was tough on my family. I don’t remember those days at all. I know I kept insisting on having my husband with me and would not cooperate with anything until he was there with me. He patiently handled me and helped the doctors to get me to cooperate with what was needed. Then one day Steve showed up and I was ok again.

One night, I needed 100% oxygen from the machines, and they wanted to put me on a ventilator. We had some tough discussions about life decisions. I eventually consented to allow that as a last resort. The next morning God preformed a miracle, and my oxygen needs went down to 85% and no more talk about a ventilator was to be had.

I had lots of physical therapy to be able to walk again. That was rough to deal with the fact that I went from dancing for hours to being excited to just walk 9 feet with a walker.

Spent 1.5 months in the hospital. November 1st thru December 6th in ICU. Then pulmonary step-down unit for a week then a rehab hospital for another week. Came home on December 15th.

I was able to go home for Christmas with my family. It was wonderful!

Three weeks later… I was not maintaining my oxygen levels even when using an oxygen machine. Dizziness and weakness. Oxygen levels had dropped into the 50s and 60s. An ambulance was called, and I went to the hospital again. No beds were available at the downtown Cleveland clinic. I had to stay at the local hospital. That 2 weeks were a nightmare. No visitors were allowed so Steve had to stay home. ICU was the place I ended up again.

Eventually I got to go home, again. I was weak and trying to put myself together again. My family was amazing in their support and care. I am so blessed.

Three weeks later, my oxygen levels dropped again. Another ICU visit for me for 2 weeks.