Blog - Voices From the Bush
Eat Sleep COVID Repeat - by Dr Emily Neville
- An evolving perspective on isolation
That night I cuddled my Kelpie pup and planned her future without me, just in case. She would miss the cold Murrumbidgee River but as I faded into her memory, she would come to love my parents’ place, she loves their backyard. 1400km from home, a quick phone call to nut out my wishes was unexpected but necessary in these surreal times.
Never have I ever felt more isolated.
Don’t breathe in. Don’t breathe in, or Berry (the kelpie pup) will go to your parents, be overfed and die. I passed the negative pressure room at a quicker pace than normal. At the time, this patient symbolised the beginning of the end for me. The first positive patient of the onslaught. Never have I ever felt more isolated.
“Hi, Em!” Great, the neighbours have spotted me. “How are you going in all this COVID business?”
“Not too bad, I am working in intensive care at the moment so we are very busy preparing for the unknown.”
“Uggh, well do not come anywhere near us.” I waved goodbye to their backs as they hurried away.
Never have I ever felt more isolated.
I turned on my heel and headed inside to be greeted by my trusty kelpie, the smile on her dial put one on mine.
One COVID day in the life of a Doctor