HEALTH

What Can I Say to Convince You?

DR. MUZOORA: THE TOLL OF ISOLATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION

Written by STEVEN WILSON

As a pulmonologist working in the COVID-19 Critical Care Unit since the beginning of the pandemic at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, Dr. Michael Muzoora has watched patients struggle physically and emotionally while in isolation in the hospital. Dr. Muzoora has cared for patients for weeks, trying everything there is to try, only to watch them lose the fight. Read his words on the toll this takes not only on patients, but also on healthcare workers.

The Mental and Emotional Toll

“Being in the hospital with COVID, being in the ICU it takes a toll on you, as a patient, it takes a toll on the family. Most all of our patients will have to be in a form of isolation. And human beings, as social beings, don’t like to be isolated. So the idea of being in a room for your safety and for others’ safety by yourself, that definitely takes a toll on a patient.

The Physical Struggle

But it’s also, not mentally, but dealing with the physical and difficult part of the ailment—having to go through the disease process. So it’s certainly something that

weighs down the patient quite heavily, from both a physical standpoint and an emotional standpoint.

The Impact on Healthcare Workers

Another part is how hard it is to care for someone for 2, 3, 4, 5 weeks, and watch them lose the fight against this disease after you have tried everything that there is to try and still lose the fight. And those stories do actually stick with you as a doctor.

The Importance of Vaccination

Right now, as the infection rates creep up, we are beginning to see even people at a much younger age than we have seen before who are having quite severe illness, which is slightly different from what we were seeing before. So, I would say the most effective control for viral outbreaks is vaccination, and right now, what we know the best intervention against COVID-19 is the vaccine. OL

HAVE A HEALTHY HOLIDAY WITH THESE TIPS

As the holiday season approaches, you’re probably looking forward to spending time celebrating with your family—especially after a year off from gatherings. Everyone is ready to get back to normal, but before you start thawing out your turkey or making your holiday gift list, make sure you’re properly prepared for a safe season. Follow these tips for a healthy holiday.

GET FULLY VACCINATED.

Vaccines are our best protection. All three available vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) are safe and effectively reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.

Because so many celebrating the holidays are children who are still not eligible to be vaccinated, it’s even more important for those around them to be fully vaccinated.

Schedule your vaccine today at OwensboroHealth.org/Vaccine or find other locations at Vaccines.gov.

STAY HOME IF YOU MIGHT BE SICK.

It might feel disappointing to miss out on a celebration, but it will feel worse if you are responsible for spreading the virus to other partygoers.

Do not attend celebrations or participate in activities if you feel sick, or if you have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19—especially if you are not fully vaccinated.

WEAR A FACE MASK.

Face masks are recommended at gatherings where not everyone has been vaccinated.

Because vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can carry COVID-19 without showing symptoms, wear a mask when around people who are vulnerable to more serious outcomes if infected with COVID-19.

ADJUST YOUR GATHERING.

Keep gatherings small. Large gatherings, even if they are outdoors, pose more risk for COVID-19.

Indoor activities where people from different households mix are a higher risk for everyone—especially for unvaccinated individuals. Hold your gathering outdoors if possible.

If gathering indoors, open windows to bring in fresh air. Consider using your garage as an event space and keep the door open.

Serve food and drinks in individual servings instead of “buffet style” and provide hand sanitizer in multiple locations.

TAKE INDIVIDUAL PRECAUTIONS.

Consider a soft quarantine, limiting your exposure to others, before your family gathering. This is especially important if you’ll be around more vulnerable relatives like the elderly or immunocompromised.

Monitor your family for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days after participating in any festivities. Pay special attention from days 3-7, when people are most likely to develop symptoms.

If you had close contact with someone who later tests positive, you should get tested and stay home to quarantine if you’re not fully vaccinated. If you do not feel well, or if you test positive, stay home to isolate regardless of your vaccination status.

TALK TO YOUR FAMILY.

Have a conversation with your family members to set expectations about celebrating. Be considerate of other family members that may be more or less comfortable attending gatherings. OL

Thanksgiving 1921

Written by LORA WIMSATT

Thanksgiving was celebrated in Owensboro in 1921 just as it is now, but with many significant and notable differences.

PRICY TURKEYS

Top of mind for many residents was the outrageous price of turkeys. A newspaper article published in mid-November quoted U.S. Secretary of Labor James J. Davis as saying he had heard rumors that the price was spiraling out of control. “I know for my part if turkey goes to 79 cents a pound, I’ll eat corned beef and cabbage for my Thanksgiving dinner,” he vowed.

As another alternative, Owensboro stores were selling chickens for 20 cents “on foot” or 35 cents dressed. Other families planned to serve rabbit, duck or goose, but with all of the trimmings.

SCHOOL QUARANTINES

Besides the traditional meal, residents had the opportunity to celebrate the day in many different ways.

Catholic churches were scheduled to hold high Mass at 9 a.m. All Baptist church members were invited to join together for a shared service at Third Baptist Church, and the congregation of Fourth Street Presbyterian Church were invited to a service at Settle Memorial. An assortment of other faiths would meet at Zion Evangelical, with a service that would include the choir anthem, “Joy of Harvest Days.”

Business houses were expected to be closed at least part of the day, with banks and federal offices closed all day, including the post office. Although there would be no mail deliveries to residential or business districts, the usual mail collections were promised to be made at street boxes, with deliveries dispatched despite the holiday.

Schools were closed on Thanksgiving Day—but lessons would resume on Friday. The holiday break was abbreviated to account for the fact that “so much time was lost during the diphtheria quarantine.”

GLOOMY WEATHER

The Thanksgiving morning edition reported a “dark and gloomy” Thanksgiving, with rain “putting an effective damper on all outing parties arranged for the day.”

Hunters who had planned to stalk “Bob White and Brer Rabbit were disappointed. Fields and lowlands are covered with water, making good hunting impossible for several days.” The newspaper graciously noted, however, that Bob White and Brer Rabbit enjoyed Thanksgiving, “as their lives have been spared a few days longer.”

Nutting parties were also cancelled—but movie houses welcomed crowds whose outdoor activities were washed away.

FOOTBALL FOLLIES

The rain did not stop a highly anticipated match between the Owensboro High School and Henderson football teams, with many residents making their way westward for the contest. The Lions Club and Rotarians chartered a special train that carried 425 passengers to Henderson, “in addition to about 50 who accompanied the Red and Black on the noon train. A few braved the muddy roads and made the trip by automobile.” A crowd of more than 2,000 made this the largest that ever attended a football game in Henderson, according to the next day’s newspaper.

The matchup ended in a disappointing 7-7 tie, thanks to “an unlucky fluke” (a fumbled punt recovered by Henderson). Adding insult to injury, the newspaper huffily reported that “Not satisfied with making the Owensboro band walk from the depot to the fairgrounds, Henderson high school officials charged each member of the band $1 to

get into the game. Mr. Samuels, manager of the band, gave his check for $31 so the band could be admitted to the field.”

For those who stayed home, the newspaper offered a variety of games, stories and activities to keep the family and guests amused. Fun for everyone: Grandma was to pass out pencils and paper, and invite everyone to write down the answers to “Nut Questions.” (As an example: What nut grows at the seashore? Well, a beechnut, of course.)

Local merchants were keen to invite prospective customers to spend their bounty in their stores. “That all of us may partake of the season’s good things, merchants now make their most attractive offerings,” one ad wooed. “Profit by these announcements, so you too may have good cause for Thanksgiving.”

Some things never change.

However you plan to spend the holiday this year—whether with food, football, religion or riddles—take a moment to reflect on your blessings of 2021 and look to the year ahead with thanksgiving.. OL