Emerging from a Covid Cell

Emerging from a Covid Cell
Saturday, February 20, 2021 by Dan Allen

Covid–19 is nothing to sneeze about, but that’s how I think it manifested in me at least initially.

Everyone is running scared concerning the pandemic. Although a vaccine is being doled out, it’s slow, haphazard, clumsy, and may not reach everyone before the virus does.

Not sure where I got Covid–19 or when. I do some traveling but have been very careful to follow protocols—mask, distance, and hand washing. Other than living in a bubble, however, there really is not much protection out there from it.

I think it started with a head cold for me. Several weeks ago I was emptying tissue boxes. There was a lull for a week or two and then it was back at it. I didn’t feel bad otherwise—perhaps a bit more tired (probably from all the blowing of my nose). We left for a ministry trip down south where Vonnie had some stomach issues. She’s been struggling since March with something, so we just figured it was par for the course. But we’d cut the trip off after preaching on Sunday and come home if she was not better. She got better, but I did not. I ran a low–grade fever never going past the 100–mark, but a lot of sweating. And I didn’t feel right.

Long story short, we took 4–days to drive home with Vonnie driving the last two. Cognitively, I couldn’t drive and ended up sleeping most of the way. We got home late on Thursday, went to a medical center on Friday, ordered to the ER immediately afterwards and I didn’t see the outside of the hospital for 9–days. I had Covid pneumonia.

It’s different in everyone. As noted, I never had the high fevers like so many. I never had headaches or any pains in the chest or anywhere. No dry cough. And my sense of taste/smell is off, but not real bad. My blood oxygen level did drop to the low 90s, but that’s the lowest it went. I slept a lot.

Observations from the Covid cell: First, I’m glad it is 2021 and not 1918. Without the medical knowhow and medicines, I’m sure I would have assumed room temperature. Second, the hospital people were fantastic! Willingly, they worked on a Covid floor exposing themselves to the possibility of contracting the virus. But they did everything correctly to get me on my way. They were wonderful—true masked angels! One of the doctors actually prayed with me. How cool is that? Third, I was able to speak to my roommate about his mortality. He had been in the hospital for over a month after having heart surgery, followed by a blood infection, and now Covid. “Have you made your peace with God?” I asked. I left him with the following verse: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

Fourthly, my greatest moment of joy came when one of my grandsons, Josiah (age 7), who had called to check up on me, expressed instantaneous, unabashed exuberance when he learned I was coming home the next day. It was as if I scored a touchdown or had a walk–off home run. He lives 2–hours away, but he had been praying that his Poppi would get better and leave the hospital. Prayers of a young child . . . answered!

Finally, I have a new lease on life. Tragically, millions have died prematurely from this dreaded disease. I could have been in that statistic. But I’m not. For whatever reason, God has spared me once again so that I can bring glory and honor to Him. There is much Kingdom work I wish to do, so I’m glad He is allowing me to continue in my labors.

Every day is a new one for each of us. It’s a gift that God gives to us. Someday that gift will be removed and our work will be done. In the meantime, we need to be busy doing the Lord’s work. What have you done for Him today?