Another drop in the number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System today. 24 people with the active virus are being treated, down from 27 yesterday. Of those patients, eight are in the ICU, up from seven yesterday. Six of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, up from five yesterday. 30 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 33 yesterday. That’s a total of 54 patients, down from 60 yesterday and 70 two days ago. In addition, HaysMed has a total of 14 COVID-19 inpatients, down from 16 yesterday, with nine of those active patients and five in the recovery phase.
On today’s Morning Media Update, you've seen her several times signing for the program. Michelle DeMartino is the owner of Beyond Interpreting. She's also suffered tremendous loss in her family during this pandemic. Both her mother and father recently died of COVID-19 within days of one another. She joined to share her heartbreaking story. With her was psychologist Greg Nawalanic to talk about overcoming grief and fear during this pandemic that will still be with us for some time to come.
Michelle DeMartino’s parents both died from COVID-19 this month, within five days of one another. She believes her 69-year-old dad caught it in his nursing home from a staff member. She describes how her 66-year-old mother was diagnosed on Christmas Eve and fought bravely until she died on February 4. She says her whole family is trying their best to hold up and educate everyone why mask wearing and getting vaccinated is so important. To those who say the virus only has a 1.4% death rate, she says that’s 90 million people, and so far, 500,000 have died, including her parents. She described the devastating effect the deaths have had on her children and nephew, and how it’s brought her family closer. She says they are all determined to let people know that wearing a mask and getting vaccinated is not just for yourself but for those you love. She says, “If talking today about my parents saves just one person, then I know both of them would be looking down and saying it was all worth it. Because that’s how they were, they loved others more than themselves.”
Dr. Nawalanic, who has helped Michelle deal with her grief, says, “Grief is the price we pay for love.” He says forget the “pop psychology” that there are concrete stages of grief and that we need to hit them all in order or something is wrong. He encourages anyone going through this to recognize that this is something that’s going to take time and to give yourself the grace to go through it in whatever way makes sense for you. He says research now shows more of a two-pronged approach is better. The first is when we have a great focus and are “bathing in the emotional stew and experiencing those negative feelings.” Then there’s a restoration focus where we’re going through the business of life and coping with its demands. But he says when a lifelong family relationship ends, you’re still going to hear their voice and maintain that relationship but in a different way. He says we don’t have to let them go; we just shift. He says, “Death ends a life, it doesn’t end a relationship.” He also reminds those who are getting really tired of all this that if we can be diligent for a little longer, we will be rewarded, but now is not the time to let up.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, points out that 500,000 deaths in The United States from COVID-19 in one year are more than the last five or six years of flu deaths combined. He says a booster of the vaccine will probably needed at some point, but it can be easily adjusted for whichever variant is most prevalent at the time. He feels the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which may get approval for its one dose regimen soon, may help those vaccine hesitant people become less hesitant. He reminds us that with individual freedom comes responsibility, and we need to continue to act not just for ourselves but the greater good.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health system, discourages anyone from waiting until the new vaccine is approved saying they will all work equally as well with no severe side effects. He says information on how the vaccines have prevented hospitalizations and deaths “brought tears to my eyes.” To put the 500,000 deaths into perspective, he says, “Kansas City has a population of 430,000 people. Imagine that city just disappearing in one year’s time, plus a few suburbs. That’s what’s happened.” He says if we remember it’s “less about me and more about us,” we’ll make it through together to return to a more normal life.
Friday, February 26 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. We will be answering media and community questions and we also have a treat. Dr Vince Key, head team physician for the Royals, will join us from Surprise Arizona and training camp. Training camp looks different this year and Dr. Key is going to explain how they are keeping players and staff safe while getting ready for baseball season to begin.
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