The number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System continues to rise today. 28 patients with the active virus are being treated, up from 26 yesterday. It was as low as five a few weeks ago. Eight of those patients are in the ICU, down from nine yesterday, with two of those patients on ventilators, the same as yesterday. 10 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 13 yesterday. That’s a total of 38 patients, down from 39 yesterday. HaysMed has one patient today, after having none yesterday.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, described the Swiss Cheese Model of protection against COVID-19. It’s the concept that it’s not just one thing but a combination of things that will keep us safe. He said there’s no evidence to support the ongoing rumor that the COVID-19 vaccine causes fertility problems. He also refuted reports that the vaccine causes Guillain Barre syndrome, a loss of feeling in your legs that moves upward, by saying the number of cases is the same in both unvaccinated and vaccinated people. He noted two patients from the Springfield area have been transferred to the health system, and while steering clear of answering a question about whether Springfield needs to restore a mask mandate, he said leaders need to have a thoughtful discussion on ways to promote the best solution, which is vaccination. He said the one thing vaccinated patients who were hospitalized had in common with each other was each had other medical problems such as obesity, heart problems, cancer, renal and transplantation histories. He pointed out how many people in foreign countries are begging for vaccine while in The United States we have a glut and says it will be an uphill battle against the virus because of the low uptake of vaccinations.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, The Kansas City Pink Warriors, a dragon boat racing team of breast cancer survivors, are back in the water and ready to compete. The pandemic has been hard on this group who know all too well about overcoming medical challenges. They had some great personal insights about surviving cancer and COVID. Joining them was Dr. Richard Korentager, chair of Plastics at The University of Kansas Health System, who explained why dragon boat racing is such a benefit for breast reconstruction patients.
Betty Welch and Heather Sebel are two breast cancer survivors who discovered a great way to get back in shape after reconstructive breast surgery. They are part of a 20-member-group called the Kansas City Pink Warriors dragon boat racing team. They explained that dragon boat racing is a team sport that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. It features a 40-foot canoe decorated with a dragon head on the front and a dragon tail on the back. The team sits side by side and must row in unison to reach their top speed and win the race. COVID-19 really threw them for a loop, but they were able to work out together as a team through Zoom meetings with a trainer from the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at The University of Kansas Health System. They kept at it and now, thanks to area donors, were able to buy their own custom-made dragon boat, which they recently debuted on the lake. Their motto is “One day, one moment, one hour at a time,” as they try to find the positive and set goals. They believe a breast cancer diagnosis does not define them and that KC Pink Warriors has been a huge support for them both mentally and physically.
Dr. Korentager is not surprised to hear of the team’s positive attitude. He says rowing is a great form of physical therapy which helps the healing for breast cancer patients after reconstructive surgery. He described some of the advanced procedures available and said that COVID-19, while it didn’t cause more breast cancer, certainly delayed diagnosis and treatment for many women. He had advice for patients who can’t work out like the KC Pink Warriors and explained how any kind of motion like rowing is better than simply taking it easy after surgery. He calls the KC Pink Warriors a “remarkable example of a support group,” which is having a very positive impact on their lives. He’s even promised to join the group in the water to help row their new dragon boat, though he admits they’ll probably put him to shame!
Wednesday, July 14 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. It's Open Mics With Dr. Stites. We’ll hear from Dr. Doug Girod, Chancellor of the University of Kansas, on what school will look like this fall. We break down the impact of unvaccinated students returning to college campuses.
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