Three Years In….
February 5, 2023
Kindness trumps hatred. “Putting” yourself in another’s shoes is better than actually being in that person’s shoes – try it.
Three years into the pandemic, we, like so many families got covid. We are grateful that it was post vaccines and boosters. But – it could have been avoided. My family and I always mask indoors and even outdoors when crowded. We test before visiting others indoors or hosting people in our house – if they didn’t or we didn’t – the windows are open with air purifiers or we just don’t host.
It happened on a week when it rained and my children had indoor lunch instead of outdoors. Very simply – it happened indoors, dead of winter. There it is – all the mitigations feasible were incorporated for 3 whole years but it failed anyway. Do we give up hands in the air? Question that any human should have at this point.
After some time to ponder, quarantining with a family of four, medicating everyone, making sure they eat and hydrate and sleep enough while looking out for yourself too – okay, there wasn’t that much time, but I came up with this:
Kindness is easier than anything else. Keep a mask handy, wear it when indoors with people not in your household, Covid is not over and not going to be over. There are 20% of those who had Covid still suffering more than 6 months later. You don’t hear them nor see them – do you want to be one of them? Wear a proper mask, treat others with respect. When it’s your turn, you’d expect the same. Treat your elders with compassion, this virus will ultimately affect them and the immune compromised with the heaviest hand. Put yourselves in their shoes before you end up in their shoes.
The pandemic is not over
November 21, 2022
It is known that the Covid vaccines have not been effective at stopping transmission in its tracks but how about a low tech thing called a mask? The flu and RSV are here now too. Why not try for this winter to put the masks back on? We want to be able to keep working, sending our children to daycare/school/college etc. We all want the same thing – for life to go on. What if life with these viruses this winter is so miserable – no flu and cold medications in the pharmacy, doctor’s offices filled with sick people, waiting more than 5 hours on average to be seen at your local ER – are these things we are willing to accept?
Why can’t American individualism also include risk mitigation? Did we survive cholera two centuries ago by ignorantly drinking contaminated water? Government worked with Public Health for the good of the citizens and procured safe water supplies – NYC is a good case in point. It is evident that indoor air pollution is something to be fixed. Vaccinating and masking are modalities that are transient. The way forward is cleaner air and ventilation practices. Sick office buildings need to be revamped. Indoor dining facilities should have at a minimum air purifiers to assist in making dining a safer experience.
Be smart, stay apart, stay safe
April 25, 2020
Covid-19 has changed all of our lives in many ways. The number of cases and number of deaths per day get chiseled into my brain each day and for some unknown reason – human nature probably – I hope that tomorrow brings less disastrous news.
I won’t be commenting on treatments as I am no authority. What I will be commenting on is some basic observations. My colleagues – PAs, Nurses, MDs and ancillary staff – they are all rock stars for fighting the fight. Seeing their bravery and seeing people out there flaunting themselves – running and biking without any face masks; queueing up for coffee (if it was for Covid testing then sure!), even police officers a few weeks ago not practicing social distancing in the least. People don’t seem to realize that this virus goes two ways – from themselves on to others and from others on to them; and in light of the fact that many are asymptomatic – makes me wonder what in the world is up with these folks. We don’t live in China, so our lockdown is not like theirs but I think it is time penalties be enforced.
The city’s homeless – there are a few regulars in my neighborhood. As a tax paying citizen I know that they can go to shelters but choose not to – but I wonder what’s happened to the cigar smoking homeless man always on 9th street and 5th ave; the other guy in front of La Bagel on 7th ave and a few other regulars.
The financial straits that people are now put in just makes me wonder how will this all go. I hope for humanity that we share what we can with each other. Community has taken on a different meaning now. Halloween and Easter are no longer holidays my kids will go out and take candy from strangers. My parents who are past retirement, know well enough to socially distance but I worry about the mental health impact it will have on them. I am not currently employed and a full-time mom in order to homeschool my children and permit my husband to continue to work from home – in the not so quiet at times space he eeked out for himself. I feel helpless but I know that it takes a village – we all have our roles to play. Humanity will not give up. We are fighters and we were given a brain that is inferior to none – Be smart – stay apart – keep safe!
Hospital M&A activity down
April 20, 2019
Holiday season
November 24, 2018
As the holiday season gets into full swing; keep an eye on your children and potential choking hazards that can be in their environment.
An excellent site for parents /care givers of young children:
NYT piece on Lasik Eye Surgery
June 16, 2018
Having had Lasik done circa 2008 by Dr.Donnenfeld who is interviewed for this piece – https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/well/lasik-complications-vision.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fhealth&action=click&contentCollection=health®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=8&pgtype=sectionfront
I have this to say:
Lasik surgery should not be taken lightly. I had pre-existing dry eye and still I was “a good candidate” as per the surgeon and his staff. Once the surgery was over and I experienced severe dry eye, I returned to their office almost every month but never got to see the surgeon. I was always seen by an associate who would just focus on the corneal flap being intact.
Since then, allergy season would hit me twice a year with a corneal abrasion or two per season which I have come to be able to treat quickly with the guidance of Dry Eye Specialist Dr. Latkany. He wrote the “Dry Eye Remedy” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578262429/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1578262429&linkCode=as2&tag=artiwithlis0a-20&linkId=C3KCJHYTXLTMUGPW and has offered me punctal plugs to prevent my eyes from getting worse.
All in all, Lasik surgery is a huge industry and if radio commercials are still offering discounts etc, it is here to stay. I just hope that a piece like this in the Times will alert pre-surgical candidates to do their due diligence. Perhaps asking for the Schirmer’s test to be performed is something one can do. Also ask yourself if you can function without being able to drive at night, suffer from eye pain if awake for more than 12 hours?
Take home message – do you really need to do something risky or are glasses or contacts a reasonable option for the future. Lastly, over the age of 40 most of us need glasses due to presbyopia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyopia regardless of if you have had Lasik. Figure out the return on investment that you would have and also decide based on that.
Amelia PA Blog 