The Rona

I am feeling burdened these days.  We've now had several cases of COVID-19 in our region.  Since we're the only medical option up here, we're the ones dealing with what this means and what to do.  So a lot of meetings and testing contacts to try and figure out if and where "The Rona" is spreading.  We've still been pretty lucky as everyone that's tested positive has been asymptomatic or just mildly sick (like with cold symptoms), so we haven't had to hospitalize anyone.  It's a constantly moving target.

What that means for me is that I'm doing a lot of phone visits and medical coordination without seeing patients in person.  And because we still have a lot of providers that are out (either out of state or just choosing not to work), I'm pretty much running both the outpatient department and long term care.  I don't mind, though there are certain patients that really need to see their usual provider.  But tag, I'm it!  Balancing both the patient's expectations and their usual provider's expectations can be tricky.

Since I'm working long term care (LTC), I'm being tested for COVID-19 every week.  That's not the most pleasant of tests.  But we want to keep the virus out of LTC since the residents are mostly elders that don't have the best immune systems.  So we're testing all staff and residents weekly.

One of my tie dye masks, a fun activity my hospital offered

When I'm not at work, I continue to walk a lot.  Berries are starting to ripen so I've been picking blueberries and salmonberries.  I hurt my back lifting some heavy totes in June, so bending over to pick berries then sounded horrendous.  But after some PT and a TENS unit, I'm on the up and up.  It's amazing how when you have pain, it seems like it'll never resolve and it's the worst thing ever.  But then when things lighten up, you're amazed and remember that our bodies are pretty incredible at recovering.

Arctic tundra for miles, with a few wild flowers and berries in the mix. 
But curiously, not a single tree.

I went to Fairbanks for a long weekend in June.  I was supposed to meet a college friend though she couldn't make it due to COVID.  So instead, I met up with a colleague that I had never met in person (a doc that does telemedicine for several Kotzebue villages).  I stayed in her guest cabin which was set up with a bed and mosquito net.  And boy were there mosquitos.  Aggressive little suckers.

The view from my bed.  So grateful for my mosquito net.

Fairbanks was a really refreshing experience.  I didn't do the best at social distancing as I was with my colleague much of the time, and she's surrounded by people.  Really nice people.  I had some amazing home cooked meals, the best berry pie I've ever tasted and a lot of laughs.  Besides some much needed socializing, I also got to explore Fairbanks a bit including soaking in the hot springs.  I want to go back in the winter when the aurora borealis is dancing through the sky- what a sight it'll be there!

The moose antler arch in Fairbanks

I've been walking the 8.5 mile loop through the Alaskan tundra many weekends.  The tundra is mostly flat and goes forever.  There are wild flowers blooming, berries popping up and there continue to be random animal parts around.  There's a well ridden loop road, so not much danger of bears or other predators.  If you venture off the road, you're on your own.  For the most part, we stay on the road, talk about all the things and breath in the fresh air.  It's been in the 50's with a few days in the 60's- excellent for walking.  

A nurse friend took me out to expore on an ATV, such fun!

It's still light 24 hours a day here though the sun will dip more and more in the coming weeks.  Then it will be "normal" for a little while with both day and night, then the darkness will set in for winter.  When I was interviewing for this job, I was told the light is a bigger problem than the darkness.  I guess it depends on what problem we're speaking of.  But for sleep, the infinite light definitely plays a role.  There's no cue that it's time for bed.  Many set an alarm.  Or just stay up much of the night, go to bed when the sun starts to dip (around 2-3am), then sleep until afternoon.  Since I'm due at work at 8am, I have to get myself into my bedroom with my blinds and dark curtains to get my brain producing some melatonin to aid in sleep.  Doesn't always work well and 8am often comes too soon.  But I try.

I'm an honorary Native Alaskan now

4th of July was fun.  We had a parade with every fire engine, police car and ambulance we have out here.  Also the coast guard helicopter took a pass and there were a few floats.  It was better than halloween for the kids, candy was thrown into the spectators from every vehicle.  There were no bands or singers, not sure if that was because of COVID or because we just don't do that here.  Everyone kept their distance on the sidewalks, some had masks and it all felt very festive.  Because of the no darkness here, there were no official fireworks.  Though I heard a few that evening.

One of the floats, "Catch fish, not COVID"

We'll see what these next weeks and months bring.  Feels a bit like Groundhog's Day, like we're just playing out the same day over and over.  Maybe because of The Rona.  Maybe because it's Kotzebue.  But I try to find little things to mix things up, break up the monotany.  Hearing from friends and family is the best, please reach out or use snail mail :)