This has finally struck close to home. Not necessarily anyone afflicted by the virus, but horrifically impacted by the necessary safety precautions and restrictions enacted. A member of my non-biological extended family (I guess he would be like an uncle to me) was in an extremely bad motorcycle accident yesterday -- open compound fractures to both femurs, crushed pelvis, broken back, broken neck, facial fractures, cranial fracture, and small bleeds from his brain. He has already lost one leg because doctors couldn't stop the bleeding, and they are holding little hope of saving the other one. He has surgery on it tomorrow to make that determination. They have him intubated and in a medically induced coma at this time to protect his brain (doctors believe it will heal itself with no lasting effects) and his spine/c-spine. I don't know if he's going to have a halo fitted or not.
Members of my family in Pennsylvania have already started the drive down, but state border crossings are an unknown at this time, as is any necessary quarantining beyond the shelter-in-place and social distancing orders. What they do know, however, is that they will not be permitted inside the hospital. That is the hardest part for anyone there. From the other perspective, at least I knew what my injuries were before having my lights turned out. I cannot even imagine waking up to what he's going to face, and then not even be able to have loved ones there with you; he is not going to be lucid enough for any sort of prolonged phone conversation for some time.
I'm not begging for thoughts/prayers with this post, it's just how this pandemic has impacted me, as per the thread subject...
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