A Pig's Revenge

I recently found myself visiting a friend in the hospital on a cool wet rainy day. As I approached the front door of the hospital I noticed that there was a line forming outside the hospital front doors. I have visited the hospital on many occasions in the past and have never seen a line quite like this one. It was forming just inside the door and wrapped all the way around the back. Imagine my surprise when I realized this line was leading to the Emergency Room. I quickly modified my path and searched for an alternative entrance into the hospital. I began to wonder if the hospital were supplying masks for visitors.

The swine flu in South East Texas has truly been something to worry about. School systems are reporting attendance records that are down below 80% on a daily basis. Churches are noticing decreased attendance in worship services, and stores are reporting a sales dip. The most tragic of cases involving the swine flu though are those that involve death. While only 2 deaths in our local area have been reported due to swine flu, it is the unreported number that is truly worrisome. It was only recently that our hospitals and doctors began confirming that those who are sick with flu like symptoms indeed had the swine flu. The reported number of people who have contracted the swine flu is truly low, and I believe the number of people who have died from the swine flu is greatly underestimated. Just within our community we hear daily of another family member who has been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, flu, or the official sickness of Southeast Texas...the croupe. We hardly ever hear of people being admitted to the hospital for these reasons.

Saturday I attended a memorial service. The young lady that I had went to visit in the hospital just a few days prior had just passed away from complications due to pneumonia. The doctors had repeatedly tested her for flu and swine flu, and had never received a positive test back. It wasn't until her last days that the doctors performed a lung examination and there determined the pneumonia was brought on by none other than the swine flu. This young lady left a wonderful family behind and it is truly sad.

Do everything you can to protect your neighbors and children from the swine flu. Avoid going out in public if you have a temperature or feel bad. Wash your hands constantly, and practice good hygiene. You literally may hold someone future in your hands.