May, 2021
The County of Mega Supply called at the beginning of the month to set up my in home second shot. I love it when government works. St. Laurel promptly chose a mutually convenient time and we were set.
The appointed day and time arrive and two strapping members of the County of Mega Supply Fire Department march in armed with Pfizer No. 2. The needle you cannot feel finds its target on my arm and it’s time to wait fifteen minutes. Tuesday passes uneventfully.
You know where this is going. If I were you, I would jump off now.
We’re cool Wednesday morning and then St. Laurel heads off for an afternoon of intense meetings. My breathing is getting tight and my efforts to tough it out are a failure. My caregiver calls St. Laurel who returns home and hooks up the oxygen. No relief so hospice is called. The respiratory therapist helps over the phone but still no relief. Nurse arrives, takes vitals, and finds oxygen saturation is strong but pulse is fast and temperature is one degree north of normal. Three ibuprofen later nurse calls the doctor who prescribes Adavan and morphine. Usual pharmacy is fresh out of morphine but the Adavan will be ready in an hour. Increased oxygen flow and ibuprofen kick in and I’m normal enough to take a nap.
I awake and I can feel the ibuprofen wearing off. I can’t use my communications device because my labored breaths prevent me from keeping my head still. Fever is rising, respirator isn’t fixing my breathing, and I can’t tell anyone what I need. Somehow during this panic St. Laurel manages to figure out my need for ibuprofen, pick up my prescription, and call hospice. After laying on the counter for the better part of an hour I get my first dose of Adavan, and the nurse arrives. She calls the doctor, who triples the dose of Adavan, then works the phone for morphine. She gets the morphine but thankfully the other drugs have done their job so it’s unnecessary. I am finally back to normal.
Yes, knowing what I know now, I would get the second shot again. If that was COVID I’d do anything to prevent it. Not being able to breathe is damned uncomfortable. Which makes me wonder about the rationale behind those that refuse to get vaccinated. I do hope they see reason before it’s too late or, at the very least, fulfill their patriotic duty to get us to herd immunity. As for me I’m happy I have one less disease to worry about.
See you next time.
Embrace The Suck 
Bob, you don’t know me. I’m a friend of Amanda Martino’s and my husband Graham was diagnosed with ALS in August 2020. I follow your blog religiously and am ever grateful you take the time to write. I think of you and St. Laurel often. Your positive attitude and St. Laurels ongoing grace provide mentorship to Graham and me. I’m sorry this covid shot gave you a run for your money and I’m glad that you’re feeling better. Keep up the good work. We’re with you all 100% Please let Laurel know I am praying for her and for you and for Katie. You all are close in my heart. my email is cristinaspencer@gmail.com if you ever want to be in touch. My husband Graham is foopee@gmail.com. We’re huge fans of yours. XOXO Cristina
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Bob,
Seeing your last two posts brought tears of love to my eyes and warmth and peace. To feel loved is most special. The exchange of love between the two of you is precious and I appreciate you so sharing it so eloquently.
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Yikes – that must have been very scary for the both of you! By the way, I’d love to get a description of how your communication device(s) work — fodder for a future blog? (Unless I missed that topic!). Love, Nancy
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Well, we may have MEGA supplies of vaccines, but we have a MAGA supply of morons who will refuse to have their freedom to be free of vaccine be infringed to their dying breath. You can guess my feelings on that.
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Clearly the most disconcerting 2nd jab or all times. Among the mostest of the most blogs you have written, I definitely liked the anniversary letter better! But we like it all. Love, Dick
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The Covid vaccine for me was a walk in the park compared to the Shingles vaccine i just got. It kicked my butt big time. And to think they make us do it again in 2 months. But as others have said, who am I to be complaining about anything. Your last blog about your and Laurel’s time together sent tears streaming down my eyes. You are a natural with the written word, and the spoken word as I remember. You and St. Laurel are on my mind constantly and I truly hope to be able to show my support in person one day. You are a warrior Bob and I am grateful you share your fight with us.
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Wow, Bob. The Pollyanna vestige in me says, well, I guess your antibodies were kicking in. But that sounds SO bad. Mike, Tom and I are trying to figure out if we even HAVE antibodies with the vax fighting our immune suppresant meds for our transplants. A brave new world, I guess. Bravo to you and Laurel.
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Great to know you are doing well, Bob.
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Bob.
So glad to read that you are better. That was a rough stretch for you. I hope you are breathing easier now. I am sure Laurel is a great comfort for you.
SteveC.
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I’m sorry to hear you had a rough time of the vaccination, Bob. I’m glad you can look back on it positively. Betsey also had a rough time after her second shot. I just had the standard sore arm, and it was not as bad as the pain of the pneumonia vaccine.
On a separate note, I was touched by your love letter to St. Laurel. More than I can say.
I assume you saw my “Embrace the suck” meme. After seeing it on an episode of The Expanse (which I’ve now watched twice), I was surprised to learn that the phrase was NOT a Bob Hawn original, but an unofficial marine corp basic training slogan. Fittingly, the meme I photographed was a scene between Bobbie and another unemployed Martian ex-marine after she lost her job on Mars. But maybe you knew that.
The Dark Forest is crawling up my reading list. Right now I am finishing The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt. It’s about the genetic and cultural factors that influence a person to be conservative or liberal. It’s given me a lot of insight, not just to others but also to myself. You probably remember me as conservative. These days people would call me progressive. I think often of your comment to the effect that the publication of Atlas Shrugged was a net detriment to society. I think I understand your comment now, and if so, I agree. If Ayn Rand championed the entitlements of the so-called doers, at least her heroes created things and weren’t grifters. If I detested Clinton, it is only a fraction of my feelings for He Who Can’t Be Shamed.
Keep blogging. I admire your writing.
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A raven flew up to my outside porch this morning, where my ever-entertaining and wonderful young male, just -past-feral-now learning-domesticity-cat, Jack Henry , was curled ready to attack the damned bird. The anger, alarm and inexperience-induced fear I felt, pushed me into action. This is nothing in the face of what you and Saint Laurel face constantly.
I just had to just grab Jack Henry and run but how she and you know she will find the right instinct and jump into action, that, that is completely remarkable and beyond my comprehension.
Somehow you make it understandable to yourself and to and for us. Your appreciation and continuing hope are daunting.
I’m coming down for lessons and just plain contact-high inspiration.
Warmly, Jeanne
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I’m so relieved to know you’ve had your second shot and don’t have to worry about the dread virus.
I look forward to reading your blog every week. Thank you, again, for embracing the suck with so much grace and humor.
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My God, Bob, what a nightmare! I’m so glad Laurel is there. You wrote such a beautiful anniversary tribute to her in your last post. No one could be so clear-headed, and loving while helping you through all this. Wasn’t your wedding just last week? So many great memories of you since then! Hugs to you both!
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Well that seems like a fairly frightful experience post vaccination. You are correct though….it beats COVID!!! Sounds like you have a pretty good team despite some delays with meds. Once that Ativan was crushed and flushed down your tube I imagine it was a relief once they kicked in!!!
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