The virus made its impact on our family. A few days after Thanksgiving, word was out that Lori and Libby tested positive and Troy had been sick. Troy was not at the family Thanksgiving gathering because he wasn't feeling well. About that same time Karen and Orrie were fighting what they claimed to be sinus infections. I knew that a sinus infection is not contagious and unlikely they both were sick with it. They were sure it was the COVID and would be fine. Luke had been at their home a lot and the same time came home not feeling the greatest. I think he had the virus. We kept him at Karen and Orrie's until after Mark's surgery. It was hard to know what was best. Mark certainly did not want to get sick with the virus while recovering from surgery. I wasn't worried about getting it myself, and Luke hated being isolated. I had him stay in our basement for a couple more days. I was around him so it didn't really make sense. After a few days we carried on as normal. We decided back when the virus started that when the virus hit our family, we would be in it together. We would have herd immunity, we would all be exposed and deal with it together. This is not the recommended way. In fact most families and the recommendation would be to isolate from your family for 2 weeks. I have heard and read many stories of families where the husband or kid was put in the garage, or basement and isolated for two weeks away from family. Parents not being able to go near their little children. That seems crazy!! Besides most of the time these people that were isolating were doing it only because they had been "exposed", meaning they were around someone who was positive or even someone who was around someone else that was exposed. They were not sick themselves. IN that case, if each time one of my family was "exposed" or sick and they went into isolation, for goodness sakes you could be isolating all year long! Craziness, just crazy! Mark tested negative on Tuesday the 30th and had surgery on the 4th. Karen and Orrie seemed to be doing better, then they both were hit with fevers and just kept getting worse. They were tired, weak, had no appetite and Karen had a bad cough. I was worried about them, called daily, took food, but had to keep my distance. I kept telling Karen to call her doctor and convince her to go get tested. They were under the opinion that the doctor wouldn't do anything for them and they didn't see any reason to be tested. After 10 days of feeling crummy, they finally did get tested. Mark was showing some strange post-op symptoms the following week. We don't know what was COVID and what was post surgery. On the 10 th I lost my taste and smell completely. I sounded congested for a few days. I made Mark go with me to be tested, but I was certain we had the virus. We went in for testing, a swab stuffed way up your nose, on a Wednesday and waited until Sunday night to hear results. Our concerns were confirmed. The worst of it all, Jayden and Noah arrived home the night that I started feeling crummy. They were entering the house just as we were getting sick. I felt just awful and worried more about them than anything. My big fear was that Noah would get it and bring it home to all his family for Christmas. I was beside myself. I knew there was no way to isolate and how awful that would have for been them. Both Noah and Jayden were convinced they had already had the virus and would be just fine. As each day over break went by, I felt a little better about having Noah and Jayden home. Jake really carried on like normal, we had him stay home from school a couple days at the end of the semester. It was kind of nice to get over the virus and not have to worry anymore about getting it. If you test positive you only have to quarantine 10 days if you are exposed you quarantine 14 days. When it was all done and over, it was really not a big deal. I had to deal with the no taste and smell. I'm really hoping I get it back soon.
As of December 1st, There were lots of COVID cases in Webster City, Stratford, Dayton, and Ogden. We are surrounded. In Webster City 65 of the 70 residents in a nursing home tested positive. Many of them had no symptoms and many recovered fine. We have to keep remembering that there is a high recovery and extremely low death toll. My great Aunt Gladys Dyvig could not overcome her battle with COVID. She passed away from complications due to covid, that can mean a lot of things. She was 94 and lived a long life. The saddest part of it all, her son was not even allowed in the room with her. He could not hold her hand or see her or say his final goodbyes. That is what upsets me most. If a person chooses to mask up and go in and see their loved one one more time, it should be their own choice and risk to take. She died alone without the comfort of her family. I saw Gladys last at my parents 50th anniversary. She was frail and tiny, I remember her as a sweet lady.
Gladys was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church serving on the Evangelism Committee and a longtime member of the Naomi Circle. She also attended Congregate Meals for over 35 years and served eight years as a board member.Gladys was united in marriage to Clifford Dyvig of Webster City on November 9, 1947. He preceded her in death on August 4, 1991. In 1995, she married Clyde Culmer of Woolstock. He passed away on July 19, 2002.
She is survived by her children, Dale Dyvig of Webster City, Jerry (Marj) Dyvig of Edmond, OK, and Lanette Taylor (Brian) of Honolulu, HI; step-children, Nancy (Steve) Whitaker of Ankeny, Susan (Phil) Grove of Van Meter, Daniel (Karen) Culmer; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; 11 step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Gladys was preceded in death by her daughter, Becky Liston; one son in infancy; step-son, Steve Culmer; three brothers and three sisters.
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