Wednesday, July 21, 2021

“Too late”

This account of hospital life from Alabama doctor Brytney Cobia needs to be widely shared:

I’m admitting young healthy people to the hospital with very serious COVID infections. One of the last things they do before they’re intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that I’m sorry, but it’s too late. A few days later when I call time of death, I hug their family members and I tell them the best way to honor their loved one is to go get vaccinated and encourage everyone they know to do the same. They cry. And they tell me they didn’t know. They thought it was a hoax. They thought it was political. They thought because they had a certain blood type or a certain skin color they wouldn’t get as sick. They thought it was “just the flu.” But they were wrong. And they wish they could go back. But they can’t. So they thank me and they go get the vaccine. And I go back to my office, write their death note, and say a small prayer that this loss will save more lives.
Here’s an article about Dr. Cobia and COVID in Alabama.

comments: 3

Geo-B said...

This is just heart-breaking.

Stefan said...

I totally agree with you—it’s a powerful, compelling statement. Perhaps that’s why Dr. Cobia is already being harassed. According to a local news affiliate, WBRC, “Cobia says she and her family have received threats over her post, but she’s leaving it on Facebook because she says it has already convinced at least a dozen people to get vaccinated.”

What a world.

Michael Leddy said...

I hadn’t read about threats. Unbelievable, except that it’s not.