Thread by @Sheril_

Many friends & neighbors think I’m overly cautious w #COVID19. But my experience w hospitalization has profoundly shaped how I view this threat.

In 2009 I almost died bc of an anesthesiologist’s error during a straightforward cyst removal in the hospital. 1/

I aspirated during surgery & woke up literally coughing up lung tissue.

I couldn’t breathe.

I was by myself in the recovery area, still hooked up to beeping monitors & scared. And at first no one noticed my 02 levels crashing. 2/

I had expected to be home that evening, but landed in the hospital for a week w aspiration pneumonia.

They pumped me w loads of antibiotics & for the first time I had allergic reactions to several. They checked my lungs a lot. Continually scanned me for clots. 3/

It was a harrowing week & to this day, no one has explained what happened to me or my family. I also curiously never had to pay for my stay, so I suspect they recognized their mistake.

But I am lucky. I survived a medical error. I recovered. 4/

But after the experience of a medical error, hospitals frighten me.

Of course I love our healthcare workers & am incredibly grateful for all of the brave doctors, nurses & staff on the front lines of the coronavirus.

I’m in awe of them. /5

I also recognize mistakes are made more often than we realize. Even if we think we’re “healthy,” we are still very vulnerable to a virus or human error.

#COVID19 is a global pandemic. It’s deadly serious & more devastating every day. /6

I’ll continue doing all I can to protect my family from getting sick. We’re not in a pod & have missed some bbqs & play dates.

Medical errors do happen in hospitals - esp when they are overwhelmed. So my advice is to minimize the risk of needing one. /End