National Feral Cat Day; Thoughts on Ebola

Today is, as I wrote on Tuesday, National Feral Cat Day.  If you care about cats, and wish to help the feral ones, please visit the website for Alley Cat Allies at http://www.alleycat.org  or call and/or visit your local Humane Society for information regarding TNR programs.  You'll feel better for doing it.
    I was not impressed with the response of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital's to the first visit of Mr Thomas Eric Duncan, sending the man home with antibiotics after he arrived at the Emergency Room for care, and, as this story keeps unraveling, with more victims of poor procedural directives being announced positive for the ebola virus, I find my trust in our medical system failing rapidly.  I worked in a hospital for over eight years - a tertiary care teaching hospital.  I learned early in my job (as a unit secretary) that handling any type of lab work required gloves.  I learned some lower-level infectious disease handling protocols, and how to avoid contamination and cross-contamination.  Luckily, I never had to deal with a patient who was in total isolation - but I remember the seriousness of following set protocols for safety.
   I was speechless when I learned of the second healthcare worker's plane trip to another state to visit her mother and fiance, and then of her return to Texas on another flight, when she was known to be running a fever.  I'm sorry, but speaking as a lay person, even I know that was sheer idiocy.   As these stories unwind, I continue to shake my head in dismay - where the heck is common sense?
   I think the last straw for me, today, was seeing the news headline that there might be a chocolate shortage because much of the world's supply of cocoa beans comes from Western Africa; specifically in the countries hardest hit by this round of the ebola outbreak.  Yes, we all like chocolate - but the lives of human beings are so much more important than the world supply of chocolate!
  I think that every developed country in the world should be rushing to the aid of those countries in West Africa that are being decimated (and more) by the ebola virus.  We, the world, humanity as a whole, need to quash this outbreak of disease.  We need to study it.  We need to learn how to fight it.  We need to find a vaccine against it, or a remedy for it.  We need to wipe this disease out - eradicate it.  The United States of America and other leading countries should be spear-heading a joint health task force to combat and defeat ebola.  I wish it would happen over night...
   When I think about our quest for treatments and remedies for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, every type of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, ALS, MS, MD, and all the other illnesses that strike us down, I feel small - less than gnat-sized.  But, if all of humanity would work together to defeat all of the awful health threats in the world, I believe that we would be triumphant.  I'll do my part - will you?

Sammie

OK... if you were interested in Keith Olbermann's comment on Health Care Reform, but could not view the video for whatever reason, the transcript of the comment may be read, copied, or printed from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33224967/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/ Back to my usual topics... Sammie, the Samoyed I'm taking care of, has never before been left by both of his "parents." He appears to think I have spirited them away with some evil purpose. He will take a treat from my hand, but only with his body braced, and neck and head at full extension. He will eat the food I give him, but he doesn't want me to approach any nearer than about five feet. This has meant I've been unable to walk him; at least he has a large yard in which he can exercise and relieve himself. I've met Sammie out on the trails, sidewalks, and in the dog park near his home; I've visited for a couple hours at a time when his people were here. He has always been a very friendly, loving and happy dog in the company of Barbara and Bill; not so with only me. This afternoon I'll be sitting in the floor with a treat, in hope that he will approach me and not be completely freaked out. Tuppurr, on the other hand, I have taken care of previously - and he rubbed up against me he minute I came in the door. He spent a lot of time curled up next to me, or in my lap, or on top of the chair back, and in bed with me last night. I vaguely remember Tuppurr walking across me to exit the bed early this morning; but it was the sound of paper crinkling in the kitchen that alerted me something was up at 4 a.m. I came downstairs and found that Tupps had gone inside my backpack and discovered a package of chicken breast jerky, which he promptly opened and was not sharing with Sammie. I made sure that Sammie received a piece, had to battle Tupps for the package, and then locked the package and my backpack inside the pantry. I'm about to go walk Rosie and Remy, as it is cold here, but no longer spitting from the sky... then I'll visit my kits and come back to try and woo Sammie....

A Must See (or Must Read)

Last night on Countdown, Keith Olbermann delivered an hour-long Special Comment on the state of our nation's health care. I consider it a must see (or a must read) item. It can be viewed on the internet in streaming video at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/33217642#33217642 Tomorrow, the written transcript will be available, and I'll post that URL as well. Am I afraid of becoming ill or having a catastrophic accident? You bet I am! I receive Social Security Disability payments each month. The "cost" of my Medicare coverage and my prescription coverage is removed from this check before I see it. The check just covers the cost of my apartment rent and utilities, and most of my food. I receive just too much to qualify for food stamps or any other type of assistance, so I do my pet- and house-sitting, genealogy research and history research to augment my income so that I can afford taking care of my two cats and having internet access at home. I don't really want more money from the government; I just would like to have better health care. Since my income is so low, I receive "indigent care" at a clinic, but I must pay $25 for each visit. If something is dreadfully wrong, as when I had pneumonia in May two years ago, I have to go to the Emergency Room. There I was given two prescriptions to get filled, a print-out of what was wrong with me and how to take care of myself, and instructions to see my MD at the indigent clinic in 10 days. Then I was sent home. I never had a follow-up visit, because my MD is booked 2 months in advance, and by the time I could be seen, I had recovered. America needs health care reform!!

Today is a grey, yucky day here in Boulder. It's been lightly raining since before dawn, and the weather people are saying that Boulder might see three inches of snow before sunset, as an Arctic cold front slowly descends over us. The kits were not happy when they saw me load up my overnight bag and place the alarm clock inside it just before I left this morning. I'm currently at Sammie and Tuppurr's house; Sammie is chewing on a rawhide roll and Tupps is complaining that I'm not his usual Mommy. Because of the rain I did not walk the Rs this morning, but I hope to do so tomorrow. Lovey and Banichi stuck to me like glue last night and this morning - they must have known something was up. We're supposed to have snow through Sunday, and I'll keep you apprised of our weather. .... This Saturday, Zenyatta is running in the Lady's Secret Stakes in hopes of winning her 13th straight race. And Mine That Bird will be facing older horses in the Goodwood Stakes on that day. As a Breeder's Cup aside, Goldikova will be returning to defend her title in the Mile (on turf).

Health Care, Horses and Pets

I needed a day off from blogging yesterday... my brain was tired (as if it isn't always!). I walked Rosie and Remy yesterday, and we all got soaked by the sprinkler systems at Kathy and Jim's house (it was a Silver Lake Irrigation Ditch watering day) before we returned home. After chatting with the Rs' owners, I came back home and went back to bed... thinking of my nephew's lady, who is in the Special Neurological Intensive Care Unit in a Denver hospital. Allison, who has been dating Mike for the past 6 months, graduated from CU with a degree in Economics in 2005 - here in Boulder, the best-paying job she could find (and enjoy) was as a bar tender; the only drawback to this is she does not get health care coverage. In the middle of last week, she complained of a headache, vertigo and nausea - the onset of her symptoms was fast, and Mike took her to our local hospital - Boulder Community Hospital. She was checked out by the ER crew, and it was decided that she was having a migraine headache... they sent her home with the usual migraine care warnings. The MDs had suggested that she get an MRI or a CAT scan of her brain done, but, as Allison had no insurance, and the minimum amount of her bill would increase by at least $5,000.00, Allison declined. (I would have declined in her place, myself.) Saturday afternoon her discomfort increased, and Mike took her to the Avista Hospital in Louisville. The ER team there recommended a CAt scan, which was done immediately - and then she was transferred via ambulance to the SNICU in Denver. The reason? Allison had a huge blood clot in her brain that had expanded into her venous sinus cavities. Her family has no history of strokes, heart attacks, or blood clotting irregularities. Allison has not been in an accident, or involved in an activity in which she bumped or struck her head. Her MDs were amazed that she could function and speak at all, due to her condition. She has been on IV blood thinners, and was to begin Coumadin treatment yesterday evening. Please keep this young lady in your hearts and minds for the next several weeks! The MDs don't know if (a) she will survive this, (b) if there will be any lasting effects from the clot, once it dissolves, (c) they don't know if the clot will dissolve, or if she will need brain surgery, and (d) don't know the effects of keeping her on Coumadin (a blood thinning drug) long term.... Please pray, cross your fingers, or whatever you may do to help Allison through this...

Banichi has been so happy that I've been home and in bed the past two mornings, that he has awakened me almost every hour demanding love, stroking, and attention. I did not want to get up this morning. One can still see snow up on the higher peaks of the Front Range from where I live and take my daily walks. Lovey wants me to pay attention to her, and not to the monitor or keyboard. I'll be heading off to walk the Rs in about 40 minutes. ... The Grade I Arlington Million will be contested on Saturday; it's one-and-a-quarter miles on the turf, and all horses will carry 126 pounds. There are 9 entries - 6 North American and 3 European horses. Einstein is the morning-line favorite. ... And a study has been released that designates the Top Ten Pet-Friendly Cities in the United States: San Diego, CA; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; New York City, NY; Alexandria, VA; Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; South Lake Tahoe, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and Boston, MA. I have to admit that I was surprised that Boulder was not on the list - and I was also surprised at several of the cities that were included (Chicago, NYC, and LA). ... And a late update on the Rs being mean, vicious and aggressive charges - since Joel has decided to contest the ticket, he will be taking both dogs in to visit the District Attorney, and then out to the Humane Society for the dogs to be evaluated. I did discover that the "little dog" the "older lady" was walking was a 9-month-old Bouvier de Flandres (and they are not lttle dogs) and the "older lady" is 2 years older than me (at 55), and has a mansion-like house in North Boulder. Several people who know the lady say that she is a vindictive witch.... we shall see.