In September of 2022, I contracted a septic infection after I had had kidney stones removed. I called an ambulance immediately. My hands were shaking, there was pulling pain in my legs. My temperature went up and down, sometimes over 100 degrees. After a week in the hospital, they installed a PICC line and I was admitted to an Advanced Care therapy at a nursing home, where I remained for seven weeks. I was given IV antibiotics, and I also developed Covid. I had to stay isolated in my room for five days. My room was very nice, it was a combination hospital room and apartment. I had the suite to myself.
Most of the nurses and attendants were very nice and helpful. I passed the time by reading my religious books, saying the rosary, and singing along with a radio that the Occupational Therapy Department lent me. The pastor of the church brought me Holy Communion and heard my confession, as well as giving me the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. After a couple of weeks, I had three-hour long passes to go out to attend my day program or to go out to eat with friends. A lot of my friends and people from the church visited me and brought me food, which I put into a small refrigerator that was in the room.
My singing voice got better, so much so that the organist from my church said "Your voice is coming out better." I was discharged in November 2022, and a couple of months later, on Jan. 14, my birthday, I sang with him accompanying me on the organ at Mass. I sang Amazing Grace. I feel it was appropriate, as grace had indeed "brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home."