Virus

As many of you know,  I came to Apalachicola, Florida on Dec. 21.  I painted two paintings before I developed some serious health problems.  I'll spare you the ins and outs of how they eventually found out what was causing them and go straight to the sequence of events.

In late January, I developed breathing problems, and on Jan. 29th went to the emergency room in Apalach.  They decided to send me by ambulance to a hospital in Tallahassee.  I was admitted in critical condition.

They discovered I had a blood infection in my heart.  They back=tracked my symptoms and eventually traced it all back to my gall bladder.

The gall bladder caused my type 2 diabetes to flair up and led to ketoacidosis (acid in  the blood), which nearly killed me. Eventually the problem spread  and caused an infection of the blood in my heart (which also almost killed me.)  They took my gall bladder out.

To treat the blood infection in my heart and prevent a reoccurrence, they put me on an IV anti-biotic for 60 days.  I was in a critical care hospital to monitor my diabetes and continue the IV anti-biotic until two weeks ago at which time they transferred me to a rehab facility that could not only continue the IV treatment, but also build my strength back up through physical therapy.  I had occupational therapy and physical therapy for two weeks.

Yesterday the 60 days were finally up, and I was released after two months in three hospitals.  They drove me back to Apalachicola where I am now staying until the home health care is finished.

I'm hoping in a few more days I can do some painting in my room, and build up my strength.  I can't think of a better place to shelter in place.  My room has a kitchen, my motel own and friend brings me food, and I look at the bay from my balcony.

I hope this explanation isn't too lengthy, but I wanted to let everyone know that I am recovering slowly but surely.

Stay safe, everybody. Wash your hands, and stay six feet away from me!!  Good luck!