The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 34 COVID patients today, up from 28 Wednesday. Other significant numbers:

• 25 with the active virus today, 17 Wednesday
• 2 in ICU, 3 Wednesday
• 2 on ventilators, 2 Wednesday
• 9 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 11 Wednesday

Key points from today’s guests:

Chrissy Stewart, wife, mother and cancer patient

• Has very rare cancer, angiosarcoma, on an ovary. Only two other people known to have the disease.
• Expected to live only 2-3 more years
• Has kept three children, ranging from 12 to 17, informed of everything. She vows to keep life as normal as possible for the family.
• Believes happiness is a choice, no matter your circumstances. Always looks for something to be grateful for
• The best thing people who want to help can do is be there to love and support their family

Matt Stewart, husband, WDAF-4 news anchor/reporter

• He and Chrissy hope that by sharing their family’s journey so publicly they can help others who may face darkness in their own lives
• Accept that some things are beyond our control and choose to attack the disease from a place of positivity
• Faced is own cancer scare when he developed prostate cancer. After treatment he’s in full recovery
• Finds that it’s important to have a purpose in life and a reason for getting up each morning, like a job, to help keep a positive attitude
• Having a strong faith in God, and faith in science, has been vital

Rev. Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor, The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection

• As a pastor, he can’t always make things better with just the right words. Finds it’s more important just to be there and listen.
• People in these circumstances often ask, “Why does God allow this to happen?” He believes that things in life go wrong on their own and God doesn’t put a bubble around us to keep us from tragedy, difficulty or pain. He believes God walks with us, carries us and sustains us.
• Says the most important thing friends can do is to simply show up
• Has learned a lot from Matt and Chrissy and believes their journey is helping others cope

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System

• Active COVID infections are still higher than we would like. Hoping for a plateau and decrease
• Monkeypox is still out there, and 300,000 vaccine doses are about to be deployed
• Over the holiday weekend, be cautious about crowds, especially indoors. Outdoor activities are much safer. Wear a mask if indoors.

Wednesday, July 6 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Open Mics With Dr. Stites, and it's Show Me the Science day. We'll look at the science of summertime sunburns, learn the kinds of burns that worry specialists most and update fireworks injuries.

ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:

Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628

Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628

TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI

Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital

YouTube.com/kuhospital

Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.