GOOD MEDICINE FOR HARD TIMES

Good medicine comes in many flavors.

When it works the way it’s supposed to, the struggle to deliver is worthwhile.

However, the struggle to deliver is never ends.

Everyone has feelings about good medicine, starting with, “Is it good enough?”

While covid burns through vulnerable populations, the question remains too current:

Infection, injection, or both?

The story of rejecting good medicine, falling ill, then recovering to a new reality comes up too often.

But what to make of it?

From, “I got sicker than a calf with the scours, couldn’t breath, got ventilated, but it’s still fake.”

To, “Yes, I’m immunized,” said football star and reluctant voice of reason Aaron Rodgers.

“I realize I’m in the crosshairs of the woke mob right now, so before my final nail gets put in my cancel culture casket, I think I’d like to set the record straight on so many of the blatant lies that are out there about myself,” Rodgers said in a lengthy opening statement.

Howard Breidenbach of Myrtle Creek shared his new opinion, which changed from his original feelings.

During his Zoom interview with KGW Tuesday, Breidenbach was still connected to an oxygen tank and could not suppress his coughing.

“The COVID cough never goes away,” he said.

He is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and urged people to separate pandemic issues from politics.

“Right and left, red and blue…we’re still all neighbors.”

Raising A Hand For Good Medicine

That’s a hand, my hand, during a recent hospital campout.

Two months later I’m in the cardiac rehab gym and feeling sassy.

My trainer is from Minnesota and a former hockey player, so I’m in good hands. Hey, Mitch.

“It’s better to have an exercise obsession than a prescription,” he said.

If those weren’t his exact words, it’s the same meaning, and I agree to the highest degree of agreement.

To show him we’re all on the same page I lied about my marathon time: 3:30 instead of 3:32.

Earlier in the day marathons were a topic when one of my twitter pals posted his NYC marathon time, which placed him in the top three finishers in his age group.

The discussion was about remembering the exact time of a first marathon.

I said mine was 3:32 and those two minutes still bothered me. But why? Another guy posted his first marathon time: 3:31. That’s why.

While I’m getting set up in the cardiac gym a speaker goes off with: “Code Blue in Emergency room 330.”

“What’s Code Blue?”

“Cardiac.”

“I’m feeling inspired. I like the office here with a big stretcher on wheels ready to go.”

“Our backdoor is steps away from the Emergency Department front door.”

That was the same door I walked through two months back. Now I’m on the other side and loving it enough to pay attention.

Good medicine will do that.

The Big Question For Modern Medicine

“It hurts when I do this, doctor.”

“Then don’t do that.”

Where is the failure of modern medicine that got us to the point of 750,000 plus dead in America and there’s still the doubts?

Vaccines and masks have shown to be effective reducers in disease transmission, but there’s still the doubts.

Quackery and veterinary medicine have been debunked as bogus remedies, and still the doubts.

Self proclaimed ‘critical thinker’ Aaron Rodgers said he consulted with comedian Joe Rogan on medial advice. So much for critical thinking.

Better to pay attention to the man from Myrtle Creek. Hey, Aaron, meet Howard.

“This is a conspiracy, just a flu they’re overinflating,” he (Howard) recalled of his feelings prior to getting sick.

He refused vaccination at a pharmacy.

After 102 days in the hospital, Breidenbach was able to return home to Douglas County. He said he’s now sharing his story with other people who are skeptical about COVID-19 and the vaccine as he was.

“I agree with them, they should have their choice,” he said. “But at the same time, what freedom do you have in the grave, besides to be worm food?”

He had to put his growing trucking business on hold.

“We were set to retire within five years,” he said. “I lost everything.”

Sharing The Good Story

Me on my deathbed all hooked up for fast action if observational medicine deemed it necessary.

“Come on heart, for f’s sake. I’ve been good to you, don’t let me down. We’ve got things to do. Like the little horse stopping in the woods, we’ve got miles to go. Let’s do it.”

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

There’s no mistake when you land in a hospital bed with alarms going off when you move.

Or sitting in a chair with an even louder alarm if you stand up.

Ask me how I know.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The next morning after one long-ass night:

“Do you have a ride to come pick you up?”

“I’ve got the best wife ever on stand-by, so yes, I’ve got a ride. How soon do I go?”

“As soon as she gets here.”

“I’m not sure, but she might have spent the night in the parking lot.”

“Really?”

I’ve got promises to keep, you’ve got promises to keep.

Let’s keep those promises together.

When your cat needs a pill, you give the cat a pill, Hercules.