I'm Back :)

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Steve

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As many of you know, I was in the hospital with COVID for two weeks and have recently made it back home. I wanted to let you know that I'm back and also what happened. My wife has been giving you updates and I know there was a bit of radio silence there for a bit so I thought I'd fill you in on the details.

First though, I sincerely want to thank every one or your support and understanding. There is simply no way for me to express my gratitude for all the kind words, prayers, and well-wishes I read in your follow-up comments's to Roses's posts. They really meant the world to me and knowing I had so much support really made a difference in my recovery (seriously). I really, truly feel like you are my extended family.

So, here's what happened.

I believe I caught COVID at a dentist visit. I had always had bad reactions to the cold / flu so we were incredibly careful when this came out. No eating out, no shopping, no one outside of our bubble. Basically for the last year we've been isolated as much as physically possible. However, based on the timeline of my symptoms, I think I should have canceled my dentist appointment. It was the only place I went that week aside from a quick 8 minute trip to the (mostly empty) grocery store. (Naturally, there's no way to know for 100% sure if it was the dentist or not, but it's the only thing that makes sense).

I started having mild symptoms about three weeks ago now and didn't think it would amount to much. In fact, I finished my review of the Z6/7ii for wildlife but ended up too exhausted to post it (it's coming as soon as I can muster the energy). As the first week went on, I become more and more fatigued and after 10 days of fever we decided we should stop by the hospital and see what they thought. They immediately checked me in with Covid pneumonia.

The first few days were OK, but then I took a bad turn. My oxygen requirements skyrocketed and soon I was in the ICU maxing out the high-flow oxygen machine. At this point they were about to put me on a ventilator and didn't expect a "good outcome" - basically they thought COVID was going to take me off the census.

I don't fully recall much of the next few days. The doctor tells me I fought like hell to keep myself off the ventilator. I only remember not being able to breath well, all kinds of cramps and incredibly uncomfortable positions, and just trying to do what they told me. Fortunately, I was able to turn the corner before I needed a ventilator. All I know is every one of my doctors and nurses tell me I'm very lucky to still be here. That's why Rose wasn't updating as much during that time - things looked pretty dark there for awhile.

At this point, they tell me I still have a long road to recovery. I'm still on oxygen and will likely be for some time. Just walking across the room feels like a Herculean effort and it doesn't take much to knock me down. This post alone has taken over an hour to write (for comparison, I typically write 3000+ words in an afternoon if I'm working on a book).

Again, the main thing is that I really want is to thank everyone for your support, understanding, and patience. I promise I will be working hard to get some new content / video up as soon as physically possible (especially that z6/7ii video) and I hope to start posting regularly in the forums again very soon.

Also, a special thank you to everyone for keeping everything so congenial while I was out - I may be biased, but the members on this forum are, by far, the most knowledgeable, friendliest, group of people you could ever want to meet. Thanks again everyone. :)
 
Very glad to hear you're home and have turned the corner Steve. That sounds like a very close call and a hard fight, glad you came out on top of that one.

Good luck to both of you as I'm sure this was super tough on Rose as well.
 
Steve, don't worry about doing stuff for all of us, just take care of yourself and get well. Devote what energy you have to your recovery. I am just so glad to know that you made it through and will recover and I am so sorry to hear what happened and how you got it. No matter how careful we are sometimes we just get caught and now you will most likely have a good resistance to the disease. I hope that you can both get the vaccine soon. Best wishes to you and Rose and we are all thinking of you.
 
Very glad to hear you're home and have turned the corner Steve. That sounds like a very close call and a hard fight, glad you came out on top of that one.

Good luck to both of you as I'm sure this was super tough on Rose as well.
Thanks Dave. It really has been tough on Rose and she's really been wonderful helping me now that I'm back home. :)
 
Steve, don't worry about doing stuff for all of us, just take care of yourself and get well. Devote what energy you have to your recovery. I am just so glad to know that you made it through and will recover and I am so sorry to hear what happened and how you got it. No matter how careful we are sometimes we just get caught and now you will most likely have a good resistance to the disease. I hope that you can both get the vaccine soon. Best wishes to you and Rose and we are all thinking of you.
I'll do my best to behave, but no promises. :)
 
All the thanks go to you & Rose. You two have set an incredibly positive & informative environment and the feed back is simply a reflection of you two. So grateful you’re on the mend. Please continue to take care of yourself, don’t rush things & get back to your old self, none of us are better off without that. Wonderful to hear you’re doing better.
I'll try to behave :)
 
Relieved to hear that you’re home again! The very welcome high tone of this forum reflects who you and Rose are; i had the good fortune to spend a week with the two of you in Costa Rica in 2018 and got to see it for myself. Oh, and i learned a lot, too! 😊. Welcome back to the world!
 
As many of you know, I was in the hospital with COVID for two weeks and have recently made it back home. I wanted to let you know that I'm back and also what happened. My wife has been giving you updates and I know there was a bit of radio silence there for a bit so I thought I'd fill you in on the details.

First though, I sincerely want to thank every one or your support and understanding. There is simply no way for me to express my gratitude for all the kind words, prayers, and well-wishes I read in your follow-up comments's to Roses's posts. They really meant the world to me and knowing I had so much support really made a difference in my recovery (seriously). I really, truly feel like you are my extended family.

So, here's what happened.

I believe I caught COVID at a dentist visit. I had always had bad reactions to the cold / flu so we were incredibly careful when this came out. No eating out, no shopping, no one outside of our bubble. Basically for the last year we've been isolated as much as physically possible. However, based on the timeline of my symptoms, I think I should have canceled my dentist appointment. It was the only place I went that week aside from a quick 8 minute trip to the (mostly empty) grocery store. (Naturally, there's no way to know for 100% sure if it was the dentist or not, but it's the only thing that makes sense).

I started having mild symptoms about three weeks ago now and didn't think it would amount to much. In fact, I finished my review of the Z6/7ii for wildlife but ended up too exhausted to post it (it's coming as soon as I can muster the energy). As the first week went on, I become more and more fatigued and after 10 days of fever we decided we should stop by the hospital and see what they thought. They immediately checked me in with Covid pneumonia.

The first few days were OK, but then I took a bad turn. My oxygen requirements skyrocketed and soon I was in the ICU maxing out the high-flow oxygen machine. At this point they were about to put me on a ventilator and didn't expect a "good outcome" - basically they thought COVID was going to take me off the census.

I don't fully recall much of the next few days. The doctor tells me I fought like hell to keep myself off the ventilator. I only remember not being able to breath well, all kinds of cramps and incredibly uncomfortable positions, and just trying to do what they told me. Fortunately, I was able to turn the corner before I needed a ventilator. All I know is every one of my doctors and nurses tell me I'm very lucky to still be here. That's why Rose wasn't updating as much during that time - things looked pretty dark there for awhile.

At this point, they tell me I still have a long road to recovery. I'm still on oxygen and will likely be for some time. Just walking across the room feels like a Herculean effort and it doesn't take much to knock me down. This post alone has taken over an hour to write (for comparison, I typically write 3000+ words in an afternoon if I'm working on a book).

Again, the main thing is that I really want is to thank everyone for your support, understanding, and patience. I promise I will be working hard to get some new content / video up as soon as physically possible (especially that z6/7ii video) and I hope to start posting regularly in the forums again very soon.

Also, a special thank you to everyone for keeping everything so congenial while I was out - I may be biased, but the members on this forum are, by far, the most knowledgeable, friendliest, group of people you could ever want to meet. Thanks again everyone. :)

Glad you are on the road to recovery!
 
Great to know that you're back home, that move alone is always a great tonic --- I know that you will want to answer every post and get back into the " groove" asap , but we are a patient lot and want you to recover fully in your own time ---probably Rose has already emphasised this "in spades" so please take care, don't rush it --- we will all still be here to "stretch your photographic wildlife knowledge" when you are ready !!
Give Rose a big hug --- she deserves a medal !
 
Super happy to have you back! It was the periods of "no news" that caused the hair on the back of my neck to spike! I figured you were having a tough go. Don't rush to put up new stuff for us! You and Rose have created a nice place for us and we've been helping each other and sharing images during your absence. Your focus should be on steadily progressing back to 100%.
 
Steve, first and foremost I'm glad your still with us. Not sure what we would do without you and your guidance! Second, so glad your support staff, ie Rose was such a blessing and gift to you!

Third don't worry about the updates to the books, just get well! The way that the mfgs are coming out with bodies, everything will be a new chapter in a week's time!

Take your time and HEAL!
 
It’s wonderful to read a post from you! It seems it’s going to be a long road to recovery ahead but you’ve won the hardest battle already so I know you’ll get back in shape over the coming weeks. Take good care and I can’t wait to eventually meet you F2F at one of your workshops when it is safe to do so for all of us.
 
Happy to still have you around and kudos to Rose for being a rock through all of this. Get healthy and strong, the videos and content will follow when the time is right. No one is expecting you jump right back in after all you've been through.
 
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