by Bob Sullivan
You probably didn’t notice, but In Layman’s Terms took a little hiatus in September and October. That was because I came down with COVID-19 and ended up in the hospital because I had developed blood clots which ended up in my lungs.
After two weeks of flu-like symptoms, followed by eight days in intensive care in the hospital, I made it back home where I have continued my recovery. As of the writing of this column, it has been over a month since I recognized my first symptoms of COVID.
COVID-19 itself wasn’t that bad. As I said, it was like a case of the flu which lasted two full weeks. It wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t awful, either. Once we learned I had developed blood clots (one of the serious symptoms of the Delta variant), even I was concerned. However, by that time, my blood oxygen was pretty low, so maybe I wasn’t as concerned as I should have been. I was aware enough to reach out to many prayer warriors I know, to ask for prayers.
One interesting fact about prayer warriors: They often know a lot of other prayer warriors. As time passed, people began contacting Carmen and me to let us know they were praying, too. By the time I was hospitalized, it is impossible to tell just how many people were praying for us.
While I jest about my low blood oxygen keeping me less worried than I should have been, I can honestly say that the prayers of so many people truly did sustain me. My whole family was sustained by the grace from all the prayers. There is really no way I should have, or could have, gotten through the ordeal with so little stress, worry, or difficulty. On many occasions, I found myself describing how calm and peaceful it was.
The entire experience was ironic, because I have been helping a lot of people obtain exemptions from their employers’ vaccine mandates. It was also really bad timing for the same reason. When I came down with COVID-19, it was about the same time that many employers had issued their deadline for proof of vaccination. While I am not an advocate for the vaccine, neither am a I opposed to the vaccine for people at high risk either. My only objection is to coercion, pressure, or mandates to be vaccinated.
It was also very humbling, because I believed that COVID-19 would not be a serious problem for me. I have always known COVID-19 was real and that for some people, it was deadly. I just didn’t think it would be for me because of my relatively good health.
So, what did I learn from this experience? I’m still learning, because as I write, I’m still on blood thinners and in need of oxygen when I am active, such as climbing stairs. I could list some things I’ve learned, such as humility, patience, and trust, but my greatest lesson has been in gratitude and thanksgiving.
Right before I came down with COVID-19, I heard a homily about gratitude and thanksgiving as a major part of prayer and worship. It may have been about the “sinful woman” who washed Christ’s feet and dried them with her hair (Lk 7:36-50). For some reason that homily stuck with me longer than most. Then a few days later, I started to feel the aches and pains of the flu before losing my senses of taste and smell.
Since turning the corner for the good in the hospital, I began offering my prayers for thanksgiving and gratitude. There is much to be thankful for, such as my family who rallied around me both in corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Then there are all the prayer warriors and the many other friends who took some extra time to pray for me and my family as well. Several priests also went the extra mile and visited us just before I went into the hospital, as well as once I was admitted, administering the sacraments and praying for my recovery. I could never leave out the nurses, doctors, housekeepers, and other staff at Saunders Medical Center and Lakeside Hospital who provided excellent and compassionate care for me.
I am not yet back to 100%, but I can see it from here, and I am confident I’ll make a full recovery, partly because the doctors said I should, but mostly because of all the graces I received from the prayers and the sacraments. Many others received graces simply for praying for me and others as well. One thing is certain. If you prayed for me, you will be in my prayers for a long time to come.
I am a fairly relaxed guy. I have my moments where I am not so relaxed, but I don’t think I’ve been thankful or grateful enough for everything God has done for me in my life. Maybe my battle with COVID-19 will help me grow in gratitude and thankfulness. Maybe writing this column will help hold me to it as well.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
The Lord spared me from more serious complications, maybe even death. That is certainly at least the 500 days’ wages in the parable. Do I brush it off as luck, good medical care, or grace? It was first and foremost grace, and I must show as much love as the “sinful woman.”
