This last 8 months of 2021 has been difficult, polarizing, and changing. At the beginning of this year, I got the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and thought everyone would eventually get on board with getting the vaccine and ready to cull the pandemic to its end.

People were going across state lines where less people were getting the vaccine. The rush to vaccinate began in the USA.

Then I heard chatter amongst my colleagues. People were scared to get the vaccine. A lot of misinformation was and is still out there. They hear about the cases where people got bad side effects. They weren’t going to chance getting the vaccine. They would rather get the virus and brave the disease process and treatment. While many survive, many also maintain “long covid” symptoms such as the loss or reduced smell or taste.

Finally, the rush to vaccinate had subsided and those hesitant to get vaccinated began to say “how could you want an experimental drug, I’m not a guinea pig.” The institutions were not to be trusted— only their “sources” would reveal the “actual truth”.

At the end of June, my hospital decided to implement a vaccine mandate by September 10th, based on the belief that the vaccine would pass FDA approval (and no longer under emergency use authorization). Of course there are medical and religious exemptions.

Since then, protests occurred in the name of freedom. People quitting, going into a different field away from healthcare. Others quit to become a “traveler” where in healthcare you could make 2-3x your regular wages. Nurses becoming jealous of those with big sign on bonuses and thinking of wanting some of that too.

Many religious exemptions were made. Personally, I’m not sure if it is to keep the staff or if there are truly that many religions that are against vaccines. What religion promotes transfer of diseases? When you know a way to protect yourself, adding a layer of armor against something, wouldn’t you want it to help yourself fight?

About a week ago, the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine. The excuse to not get the vaccine changed again. Did it really encourage those people who were hesitant to get the vaccine to get the vaccine? I hear many say the government pushed them too fast to get it approved. Basically, why trust the government.

Right now in Michigan we are lucky to not have a big surge, unlike in Florida. We are lucky to be “business as usual” without delaying surgical care to patients. We don’t have a huge influx of covid patients and for that I am thankful. We are starting to get a few more covid positive cases compared to the last few months. I sincerely hope with the start of the new school year that everything stays the same. But I highly doubt that. More people will get sick. Sure there’s treatment for it but isn’t it better to take measures to prevent getting a disease?

Starting in September, we will see what will happen. Until then…

As for my little one, I feel fortunate to have pumped /breastfeed for one year. But I am also happy that he readily accepts whole milk and doesn’t mind (too much anyways) that it’s only bottles now.

I can’t believe he’s already 15 months old. He’s running around, bounces up and down to music, climbs furniture more readily, goes up and down the stairs, understands quite a bit of what I say to him (even in Chinese!), points where he wants to go or do or eat, and says a few words. He loves the water and can’t wait to jump back in the water again. It is such an amazing journey.

The storms are getting bad, with my parents losing power for 5 days. I am seriously considering getting solar with a battery backup.

That’s it for now.