HIGHLIGHT CORNER
On “Buckin
LONNIE K. MARTENS
Well, that’s what the Palm Beach Post said
I did in their front-page article on April 18,
2020. I am not sure about the use of that
verbiage, but it appears there is some interest
in my story since I was one of the earlier
victims of COVID19, particularly amongst
our Palm Beach County Bar Association
membership. I consider myself fortunate
because my symptoms were moderate and
did not require hospitalization, although
the Florida Department of Health website
reports today that of the 3415 Palm Beach
County residents who tested positive,
only 533 were hospitalized. Of the 3415
residents who tested positive, 215 died.
Home. (2020, May 5). Retrieved from https://
floridahealthcovid19.gov/ While statistics
mean nothing to those grieving families
and my sympathy goes out to them, the vast
majority of cases do not result in death. My
case is, therefore, fairly typical.
It has been approximately six weeks since
the start of my symptoms and I am fully
recovered.
To answer the question everyone asks first
– no, I really have no idea where I contracted
the virus. I was not aware of being around
anyone who was actually sick, not even close
to a sneeze or a cough in the supermarket. I
had been in contact with a few people who
had travelled on airplanes a couple weeks
before I got sick, but it is pure speculation
to think they were the carriers because
they were asymptomatic afterwards. My
husband has asthma, so I was much more
worried about his compromised health
than mine. I did take on most of the grocery
shopping, cleaning supply and home goods
stocking duty which means I was out in
public more, before masks and gloves were
available, let alone mandatory.
On Monday March 23rd I had a scratchy
throat, and by Tuesday evening it was a
fever. The fever brought the flu symptoms
and they didn’t let up. It is a fact that on
March 24th, tests were not readily available.
There was only one public site we knew
of that was administering tests and by the
time we called, all test slots were taken until
mid-April. By the magic of the internet,
and specifically Facebook, I received
information that Baptist Health South
Florida was offering
was too sick to wait
with my primary care
with Baptist Health
was not sick enough
and endure the dread
caused by very sic
However, I knew that
way and suspected CO
an online visit. My t
and stayed at over 10
fairly evident by look
flushed. The doctor
online scheduled me
at MedExpress, an ur
test site in Boynton B
My husband and I w
outside the facility
fully hazmat suit pro
me to come inside
extremely sterile. T
room extensively and
of sterilization betw
screened very thoro
doctor who referred m
the facility when I arr
I was let into the build
I disclosed the possi
conditions, because I
and cold symptoms
pulmonologist had se
were still pending. Th
prescribed a daily in
emergency inhaler.
(59) than those presum
at 65+. However, statis
median age of cases i
is 54 and nearly equal
and females. Home. (2
from https://floridahea
Between the potentia
problem, my flu sym
(100 degrees in the offi
willing to administer
performed an onsite t
& B, presumably not
the COVID19 tests. On
that I did not have the
I had been vaccinated
I was given the nasal
and told to assume t
the virus. The doctor p
PBCBA BAR BULL