And So It Goes

I was planning to write an upbeat post today, in anticipation of my 70th birthday on Thursday. But life has a way of throwing curve balls. On Sunday, we discovered that Al has Covid. So far, he seems to be doing okay, and we expect a green light for him to start a course of Paxlovid. The last time he had Covid, nearly two years ago, it worked well for him. But he still has to lay low. So our dinner plans for Thursday night are postponed.

So far, I’m doing fine, no symptoms and testing negative. I sincerely hope that I don’t get Covid for my birthday. I also hope we are both are in the clear for hosting family for next week’s Passover seders.

I was texting with our older daughter on Sunday, who was very sympathetic about the bad timing of all this, and I remarked that turning 70 is all about taking this kind of downturn in stride—even as I was pretty frustrated when I saw Al’s positive test result that morning. As she rightly noted, a birthday is just one day, but “you can be celebrated all the days!” Very true.

For weeks I had been debating whether to get the recommended spring Covid booster. I had discussed this with both of my rheumatologists, at home and at Boston Medical, as well as with our geriatrics nurse practitioner. All had been ambivalent. The issue is that the spring booster is the same vaccine as last fall’s, although the prevalent Covid strains have evolved. While it’s possible that the booster could help dampen the impact of those new strains, it’s not conclusive that it would make a difference.

Had I gotten the booster, would I be at less risk for getting Covid for my birthday? I’ll never know. However, given my exposure, whether I catch the virus or not, I will build up some more immunity from the current strain. So I guess that’s a plus. But one I could do without.

Fortunately, even before Al got sick, we had decided to schedule an overnight trip to New York City to celebrate my birthday in early May. My original idea, to go this week, would have been too much, too near to Passover, which involves a lot of cleaning and preparation. Now it would have been impossible.

And so, all I can do is wait and see. Getting upset won’t change anything. I’ll make the best of my 70th birthday, regardless, and we’ll celebrate together when we’re both well. Lessons learned from seven decades.

Evelyn Herwitz blogs weekly about living fully with chronic disease, the inside of baseballs, turtles and frogs, J.S. Bach, the meaning of life and whatever else she happens to be thinking about at livingwithscleroderma.com. Please view Privacy Policy here.

Image: Simon Hurry