Norovirus!

[Moneypenny]

I'm so upset. My grandpa has been in a nursing home for several years after a series of strokes and broken hips. He is dying of colon cancer. There is a norovirus outbreak in his area and at least one resident of a different nursing home has died. They have closed my grandpa's nursing home to all visitors. Even if your loved one becomes critical and is on his/her deathbed, they won't let you in to visit. I havne't quite figured out yet if any of the residents of his nursing home have norovirus or if this is just a preventative measure. To make matters worse, he is very weak and confused and even though he has been told that no visitors can come, he doesn't think it's true. He gets so confused and upset now if you talk to him on the phone that I think it's better if I don't even call.

We were going to go visit him in a couple of weeks (it's a 5+ hour drive away)...I hope he doesn't die with no one to visit him.

Susan
mama to my cutie pie, Avery
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]

[dules]

That's so terrible, Susan. I hope that you are able to get to him soon.

Mary

[mommyoftwo]

Oh I'm so sorry. That's awful. I hope you are able to visit him soon.

[ShanaMama]

I'm so sorry for you & him. I work in a nursing home, so I know how much that smile can do for the residents. I hope this blows over safely & you can visit him soon.
Btw- I never heard of norovirus. What area is he in?

[randomkid]

Susan:

I'm so sorry you are unable to visit your Grandpa right now. However, try to take comfort in knowing that they are trying to protect him and all the other residents there. A virus like this can be very serious for the elderly and immunosuppresed. Hopefully, this will move through quickly and they will reopen to visitors.

For the PP, norovirus is a group of viruses that cause stomach flu. Here's some more info:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-qa.htm

[Moneypenny]

Thank you for your kind words. Norovirus makes headlines occassionally for making the rounds of cruiseships. They are extremely contagious and cause lots of stomach distress. I know it's best for the nursing home residents physical well-being, it just makes me so sad to think my grandpa may die before I can see him again. ;(

Susan
mama to my cutie pie, Avery
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]