Delmarva Today:10-9-20
Few people know that Stephen Crane, the author of the novel The Red Badge of Courage and the well known short story, “The Open Boat,” was also an excellent poet. In our time of the coronavirus I thought this short poem of his was very relevant for us today.
A man said to the universe:
“Sir, I exist!”
“However,” replied the universe,
“The fact has not created in me
“A sense of obligation.”
A week ago Thursday, the President of the United States tested positive for the CoronaVirus. Shortly before 1 a.m. Friday Morning, the President revealed that he and the first lady had tested positive for the virus. That afternoon, at the White House, he began a regimen of drug treatment with an 8-gram dose of an experimental monoclonal antibody therapy cocktail. At 6:30 p.m. the President was flown by helicopter to Walter Reed hospital. At the hospital, he began a five-day course of the antiviral drug remdesivir. On Saturday he was given a steroid dexamethasone. On Sunday he was given a second dose of remdesivir. On Monday, the President returned in bizarre fashion to the White House where he will complete his remdesivir regimen.
President Trump has Corona-19. He has now joined the more than 7.5 million people in the US with the disease. That we know for certain, even though confusion remains about when he first tested positive for the virus and how sick he actually might be. We also know that he has been given a panorama of drugs and supplements.
Regeneron monoclonal antibody "cocktail"
Remdesivir
Dexamethasone
Famotidine
Zinc
Vitamin D
Melatonin
Aspirin
Some experts commented that doctors are “throwing the kitchen sink” at him.
To discuss what we know of the President’s condition and what this regimen of treatment tells us about patients suffering from Covid-19, I’ve asked Dr. Michael Murphy to join me on Delmarva Public Radio WSDL 90.7, (Its new name is Delmarva Public Media). Dr. Murphy is an emergency medical physician affiliated with the Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, MD and is a frequent guest on Delmarva Today. Click link below and hear Dr. Murphy’s reflections on the President’s prognosis and if this regimen of treatment is in fact a “kitchen sink” response to his illness.
Stephen Crane’s poem reminds us that the fact of our existence has created no special sense of obligation to us by the universe. It has already provided all that we need to survive and to prosper. The control and cure of this virus is in our own hands. It is not going to magically go away. There will be no miracles. Wear your mask, social distance, wash your hands, and follow the advice of the medical experts like Dr. Murphy.
Thanks for listening and for reading my work.
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