A New, Uncommon Luxury

When my children were school-age and asked to stay home because they didn't feel good enough to go to school, I had two criteria: was a fever present? or were they spitting up?  Otherwise, they had to get themselves out the door to the bus on time.  After several stay-at-home illnesses, I quickly found out that there also had to be another 'sick rule:'  if you were sick enough to be home, you surely had to stay in bed, in your room;  NO TV!  This worked out well (there was only one TV in the house - in the living room).  Fortunately, they were very healthy and had the common childhood illnesses before they were in kindergarten (now there's vaccines for them!).

During my working-at-a-paying-nursing-job years, my friends marveled that I was never sick.  "How do you keep from catching everything when you're around all those sick people all day?" I was asked time and time again. One secret was hand-washing.  All the nurses I knew and I had strict hand-washing habits.  Another secret was that we had to be at work, unless we were recovering from surgery or childbirth or a car accident, in other words, something major.  For a generic cold or cough, we'd take medicine and wear the face masks all day if we could possibly function.

Late yesterday evening, my nose started running slightly and I started sneezing. It has been so many years that I've  even had a little cold!  I decided to not take any decongestant meds and just see what happened.  This morning I still had a little 'nose' problem but, in addition, I felt weak as a dripping wet dishrag!

I determined that I would just sit around and read or watch TV today - all day - and drink lots more liquids.  And that's what I've done, for the first time in my life! If you're a parent or have a regular job, you have to take care of someone or be somewhere, duties that don't allow 'days off.'

Sure, I have plenty of tasks I would like to do and need to do, but they are all waiting at least one more day.  Living through this cold without medicine has the added benefit of no side effects.

The nurse in me must mention to you that you don't catch colds (upper respiratory illnesses) mainly by being sneezed on, you catch them by picking up a cold-type virus from a hard surface and putting your hand into your mouth.  I obviously lapsed recently!  I try to not be a germ-o-phobe but try to not touch public restroom doors on the way out after I've washed my hands.  Train yourself to never touch your mouth or eyes with your hands and you'll avoid many aggravating illnesses.

By tomorrow, I hope to be energetic and fully recovered.

Dear Lord, you know how often I prayed over and with my patients and their families, and for my family when they've been sick!  I remember all those you cured of their illnesses when you walked this earth.  Please give extra hope to all those who are suffering with minor and major illnesses, both curable and incurable.  Strengthen their families and those hard-working health care workers who try to help them.  Thank you for my health and energy; help me to use this to do your work!