THIS Covid-19 is a truly terrible thing. Bad enough that it kills and worse that it cripples normal life. But it cuts us off from those we care about and makes no concession for illness.
My brother, who saved my life by giving his T-cells to re-build my immune system in a bone marrow transplant 15 years ago, is now into his ninth week in hospital. Never mind it is one of the best - St James, Leeds - and his specialist surgeon is also a top man but nine weeks is a very long time to be under high intervention medicine. The op itself - major elective - went well enough. It is what has followed that is a disaster.
Of course he is institutionalised by know - but the institution has had him lying abed for so long it hardly notices him any more. He gets the very best of everything - every device known to medicine is being deployed. The food was poor until he discovered the curries.
But no one can visit. His wife is in Cambridge fretting daily. I am in Essex fretting daily. His children are scattered and can only join the general fret.
We have sent a card or two but more is difficult - Covid makes it so and an imposition on the staff to 'cool' everything before it is handed over if not from his 'bubble'.
He has even had Covid. It got onto the ward! And recovered which seems incredible except the level of infection may, or indeed must, have been very low.
So amidst all our pleasure at having the first vaccine jab and thus beginning to see some light up ahead we are in gloom for brother Roger. Yet another procedure looms on Friday. Le t us hope it works and is the last of so many.
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