Rare rudeney Posted November 23, 2022 #1 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I wasn't sure I wanted to post this, or what topic to put it under, but here it is. You may have read my "live" report from Voyager of the Seas the week of October 2nd where my wife Jan and I sailed to New England and Canada. We had a fantastic cruise and it will leave me with many wonderful lasting memories. Unfortunately, those will be the last good memories that I will have of Jan. She passed away on November 3rd. We returned home Sunday, October 9th. That following Wednesday night, she was complaining of a sore throat and by Thursday morning she was feeling worse and tested positive for COVID. Her symptoms were mostly the sore throat and a dry cough (no real congestion). She wasn't running a fever and had not body aches. By Saturday morning, I had the same symptoms and was also positive. My symptoms cleared in a few days, and by the next Wednesday, I was testing negative. Jan had not gotten any worse, but not any better. Our doctor had called in a steroid pack and cough syrup, but neither were doing any good. By Thursday, she was coughing almost continually, but still a dry cough with no congestion. She was coughing so hard that her chest hurt and she was even having a hard time catching her breath from all of it. I checked her blood oxygen saturation and it was in the 80's so we went to the ER. She spent spent two weeks in the hospital, 12 of which were in the ICU. I kept a blog to keep friends and family updated that is over 40 pages long, but here's the summary version. Basically, the doctor determined that she had been suffering from a pulmonary embolism for at least a year, based on existing symptoms which were a chronic cough, shortness of breath, and swelling in the feet and legs. These are all things she had sought treatment for, but no doctor ever put them together and wanted to check or treat her for PE. She just assumed the shortness of breath was due to age, weight, and lack of exercise. The cough was sort of left over from a minor cold she had last fall. COVID basically exacerbated the PE, so they treated her with oxygen and blood thinners. She had to have high-flow CPAP/BiPAP oxygen delivery and that's whe whe was in the ICU. After a week in the hospital, she began to improve. We assumed the PE was breaking up as her oxygen saturation was improving requiring lower levels of delivery. That improvement only lasted a few days. She contracted a staph strain of pneumonia and things quickly went downhill. On Monday, October 31st, we (Jan, me and the medical team) made the decision to sedate and intubate her. That was the last time I was able to talk to her and after being together for nearly 40 years, there wasn't much we needed to say, but we still took the opportunity to spend time together. She never really improved and by Thursday, her stats were so bad that I made the decision to remove the life-saving measures and she passed peacefully. Although I was devastated with losing my wife and my best friend, I was glad that her suffering was over and thankful that it only lasted a few weeks. This in now way makes me afraid of COVID or of cruising. I truly believe that had she not contracted pneumonia while in the hospital that she would be here today, happy and healthy. I don't blame anyone for what happened, although I do wish that over the last year, one of her docs would had put together her symptoms and treated her for the PE. I am not sure when I will cruise again, but I am sure I will. I am so very glad that we were able to spend time with just the two of us on that last cruise. I could not image any better way to remember her. 88 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare orville99 Posted November 23, 2022 #2 Share Posted November 23, 2022 My condolences to you, and may your wife rest in peace. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trvlmil Posted November 23, 2022 #3 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I am so sorry for your loss. God bless you and Jan. May she rest peacefully. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen haywood Posted November 23, 2022 #4 Share Posted November 23, 2022 You have my deepest sympathy. I, too, am so sorry she never got the diagnosis that might have prevented this. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherries Jubilee Posted November 23, 2022 #5 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing this with us. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly361 Posted November 23, 2022 #6 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I'm very sorry for your loss. It's going to be one year since I lost my husband this Sunday 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisequeen4ever Posted November 23, 2022 #7 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved wife, and it’s awful that no doctors thought to test your wife for an embolism sooner. 😔 It’s cathartic to talk about it; thank you for having the courage to share it on here. I’m so happy you 2 could share a wonderful cruise shortly before. God bless you as you grieve. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celoplyr Posted November 23, 2022 #8 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I can't imagine how devastated I would be in your shoes. I am so very sorry for your loss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyitsmema Posted November 23, 2022 #9 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I am so sorry for your loss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keksie Posted November 23, 2022 #10 Share Posted November 23, 2022 My heart goes out to you. There are not words to describe how sorry I am to hear this. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patattack Posted November 23, 2022 #11 Share Posted November 23, 2022 My deepest condolences to you and your family. Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lazydayz Posted November 23, 2022 #12 Share Posted November 23, 2022 So sorry to hear this. It is a shame her condition was not found sooner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJSailors Posted November 23, 2022 #13 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.💐 MJ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARandomTraveler Posted November 23, 2022 #14 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Oh wow, I'm so sorry to hear this. What a tragic story, and so frustrating that it was likely avoidable had her medical care been better for the prior year. I'm glad you guys had a fun travel experience as one of your final good memories. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovesthebeach2 Posted November 23, 2022 #15 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I’m so sorry for the loss of your beautiful wife. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon Orchid Posted November 23, 2022 #16 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I am so sorry for your loss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marci22 Posted November 23, 2022 #17 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Sorry for your loss 🌷 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted November 23, 2022 #18 Share Posted November 23, 2022 May Jan's memory be for a blessing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasukkie Posted November 23, 2022 #19 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I am so very sorry for your loss. May your memories sustain and comfort you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine3601 Posted November 23, 2022 #20 Share Posted November 23, 2022 My sincere condolences to you and your family. May Jan Rest in Peace. I hope you will be able to be around family during the holidays. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdrocks Posted November 23, 2022 #21 Share Posted November 23, 2022 So very sorry for your loss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonsai3s Posted November 23, 2022 #22 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Heartfelt symphaty and prayers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tampadee Posted November 23, 2022 #23 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I am so sorry for your loss. You should have had much more time together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shona_winelover Posted November 23, 2022 #24 Share Posted November 23, 2022 I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending thoughts and prayers to you at such a difficult time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crzndeb Posted November 23, 2022 #25 Share Posted November 23, 2022 So very sorry…😢 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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