It’s been such a challenging week in our rural Upper Peninsula county. Heartbreaking. So utterly sad.
This morning our weekly newspaper, the L’Anse Sentinel (which my husband edits), hit the stands.
The lead story quotes the administrator of Bayside Village Nursing Home in town saying that 50 residents have tested positive with covid since the first case on November 15th.
Thirteen died in the past week. Thirteen beloved grandmas, grandpas, moms, dads.
The community is in mourning. Obituaries fill two pages of the paper.
Twenty-five staff members have also tested positive so far.
(The state’s coronavirus numbers yesterday do not reflect all the cases and deaths yet because their cutoff for recording occurred on November 28th.)
Dear Holy: I pray for our community. For those children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters who weep. For those who died without loved ones holding hands. Comfort the hurting. Comfort the scared. Comfort all of those who mourn–today and always.
Lake Superior Spirit 
so awful 😦
Yes indeed. 😦
Those are staggering numbers and with so many staff affected, caring for the residents must be an emergency. It seems like these super spreader events are happening more and more when people are confined to an enclosed space with an infected person (possibly asymptotic). I think of the caretakers among us and the responsibilities and stresses they shoulder as they work to keep people alive.
I think about that all the time, Barb. The nursing home administrator did say that some of the residents and staff are asymptomatic. It’s so hard.
It is scary and heartbreaking both. I do differ in one place… my sweet connection in Spirit leads me to know that I [or any being] am never alone. I am always a part of a higher good, and it is a core of me! As I have witnessed the crossing of many elders, there is a time, even with others in the room, that they are very much on their own journey, tucked in and in transition. Sometimes touch creates an unwanted invitation to return, rather than keep going…. it is my highest hope that these elders found their journey not in isolation, but rather undisturbed in their transition, seeing the light and the freedom in front of them, with a wider lens to view all who love them here or in the next realm .
End ramble…. hugs all around
I am with you here, Osa. I believe no-one dies alone – as it is a gradually ascent into a dimension where the bodies are not “solid” any more. I also believe that our dear ones now and then “visit” us – like yesterday when my “seeing-cousin” told me that my late husband was standing at the other side of the room, smiling at us.
And in no way is this denying the huge angst and worry in your community.
Leelah, how wonderful that your cousin could see your husband on the other side of the room. Such a gift when that happens. For many years I had lots of encounters with friends, family and acquaintances who had passed on. Some of them struggled quite a bit to reconcile what had happened to them. Others passed easily into the light. I think perhaps (who knows?) but it’s a process just like on earth as we learn to exist as pure awareness once again.
I don’t think we differ too much, Osa. I do think the human part of people may experience a longing to be with dear family members while dying–may even feel fear and upset as they transition, not knowing what’s going to happen next. But as the light and freedom is revealed then I imagine the joy of the Holy will surround them with absolute love. I think death is a process of letting go for many. Those who have found a deep connection with Spirit may release their earthly worries easier…perhaps… Thank you for sharing, as always!
Oh Kathy… I don’t know what to say… this is heartbreaking. My heart aches for all of those who lost their loved one to this virus. 😦 And it aches for all those frontline carers who are helpless and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people needing medical help. May your entire community be held in love and kindness and healing.
It is so sad, Reggie. I am feeling so much for the frontline workers, too. So hard.
I am sorry, Kathy. This is so heartbreaking. It’s been ravaging communities everywhere, but when it hits so close to home, it becomes more real (in a sense — what I mean is less abstract than numbers we see on the news). Our rural community has been getting hard lately, too. The numbers have been climbing faster and faster every day.
Yes indeed, Robin. It’s suddenly very real when it hits close to home. I didn’t really personally know any of the elders very well, but they are familiar names in the community.
Thank-you, Kathy.
Thank you for your letter as well, Sherry.
Dear Kathy
I’m so sorry to read this. What a tragedy. It leaves me void of words to offer healing and comfort.
I pray that the upcoming vaccines will help our communities going forward.
It is a tragedy, Laurie. I don’t think anyone knows what to say. It’s just heart-breaking.
Hard to “like” such a report but I like that you shared it to remind us how fragile we all are to a rampaging virus. Please let us hurry with successful vaccines
Dor, the elders in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are just so vulnerable. Especially those with health compromises. It’s so sad.
What a challenging time we live in. How sad that these folks, who probably didn’t venture out of their home for months on end, wound up with this illness after all. And how extra-sad that so many succumbed. Our newspaper, too, often has days where the obituaries claim more editorial space than news stories. And bless your husband for sticking with journalism (I got out two decades ago, but part of me will always be a journalist!)
Debbie, yes, that is so sad. They have been confined to the nursing home for so many months without seeing family–and now this happens. So many obituaries these days from covid. (Barry wonders why I won’t capitalize it. I say it doesn’t deserve capitalization.) Yes, he’s stuck in journalism for over 40 years. That was my training, too, by the way!
Delighted to meet my colleagues — isn’t blogging great for that?!!
I too am going to stop putting covid in capital letters, Kathy. This dashed acronym has been screaming at us in capital letters all gosh-darn year! Enough already! I think we are all yearning to visit the beloved elders we have missed seeing and hugging and having chats and drinking tea and munching cake and cookies with all year!
We’ll have to start a non-capitalizing movement, Reggie. Enough already–I agree!
Lol! I love that! 😀
I am shocked, absolutely shocked …
We have been, too, John. 😦
Even as my heart continues to break, I am so grateful to you for posting this today, my friend. Thank you. Stay safe, stay well, stay courageous. Much love…
Thanks for always being “there”, Susan. I felt it important to share…lots of people in the community don’t even know what’s happened. Blessings to you as well!
This very sad news! Allow Holy to guide you and offer comfort to those who have experience these loses!
Amen, Jeff, and thank you so much. ❤
Sadness.
Yes indeed, Carol. 😦
I’m sorry. Still praying for so much and so many this year. XOXO
Thank you for your prayers, Stacy. xoxo
Not clicking the like button. I’m so sorry, for a community to have so many lost so quickly is almost unbelievable. Hugs to you all.
It really is awful, Dawn. Thank you…
Peace to us all.
Put a mask on it…
So much peace, indeed. (And I am with you on the masks.)
May His face shine upon you and your community and give you all healing, comfort, and peace ♥ Amen
Beautiful prayer for the community. Thank you, Amanda-Lyn.
I too feel we never die alone. The sadness we feel as you stated are for those left behind who were robbed of being there in those last moments of their loved ones. We mourn for them, their loss…. the ones who passed are at peace, in a better place, much better place. I am sorry for your up north communities loss, the winter sadness they all face. These are such unknown tough times…. I don’t know how people get by without faith, without that holy connection, that inner peace. One thing these Covaid times have given us is a chance to look inward and upward, connect and reconnect with the lover of our souls. God Bless you Kathy, you will all be in my prayers in your Up North community!
Thanks so much, Gay. I so agree with you that there are different ways to view death and dying–and in fact addressed this in today’s blog post. Appreciating your prayers for our community.
Oh, I’m so sorry! This is terrible everywhere, but small communities are touched specifically hard, I think, as everyone is a neighbor…or friend…or family. Devastating! Our numbers are climbing, too, with seventeen new positives since the first of November. My heart goes out to you, as I know this loss in your town causes you deep pain. Take care!
Cindy, it seems November has been such a transitional month around these parts for covid. Lots more cases, and now deaths. Sorry to hear it’s happening on your little island too. 😦
So sad, the whole world is mourning at the same time.
Keep safe Kathy
Bright Blessings
You are right, Tilly, it’s a mourning that rises to encompass the whole world… 😦
❤️
My heart continues to break… So sorry it’s hitting so close to your home, Kathy. Yesterday we found out the father-in-law of Tim’s brother is fighting for his life with the virus in Scotland. And my son-in-law’s grandmother here in Connecticut is sick and getting tested… So many people to worry about… So much sadness…
Oh Barbara, I am so sorry to hear it’s hitting so close to you and Tim, as well. A rough time for so many. So much grief and sadness, indeed.
Beautiful prayer. My heart breaks for all.
Thank you, Lindsey. Me too…
We’ve been struggling here, too. My mom’s facility is starting to break out with cases. She’s been locked away in her tiny apartment. She spent the entire Thanksgiving weekend crying. She couldn’t be with family and was super afraid. I seriously wasn’t sure which was worse, her depression or her chances of getting the virus. Her depression really scared me. She is on oxygen, so catching the virus could be fatal for her. We’re all on edge.
On top of that, my two friends, a married couple, caught the virus. They haven’t been out of the house other than to shop with masks on. 🤷♀️ Their doctor isn’t treating them with any meds. They are just having to push through on their own.
Sorry to go on. The stress is getting to me. I hope the facility by you can heal smoothly and quickly.
P.S. We keep telling my mom to pack up some things and come stay with us, but she refuses. We don’t know if our place would be any safer, but with her place getting cases, I do think it’s better here.
Oh, Lori. I am so sorry to hear about what’s happening in your mom’s facility. So utterly heartbreaking all around. Depression or covid? There’s no easy answers. Also sad to hear about your friends catching the virus, even though they limited their exposure to people and wore masks. We’ve heard there’s been more deaths in our nursing home, but we don’t know for sure. It is stressful for sure. Btw, I will private message you.
Hey Kathy. I haven’t signed into facebook in weeks. You can email me. You should have my Outlook address, which is my personal email. If not, email me at my blog address; gnl61@aim.com.
Just sent! Oh…I could have looked up your other address but am not very centered right now and skipped right over what you said. Good reminder to start breathing and be present.
I’m so sorry to hear about this huge loss to your community Kathy.
It is a huge loss, Andrea. Thank you.
Horrible news – and to think that is a high percentage of people in your area. Thoughts and prayers to all.
It is too high of a percentage, Frank. Fortunately the daily count of cases have gone way down now. Today and yesterday we only had one case each day. Phew…
Stay safe!
Same with you, Frank.