Fighting CV19: Please send thoughts and well wishes to Greg B (Runum)

[Rabby]

I owe you lunch Welcome back!

 

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[DWX]

What a story. Welcome back, Greg. It’s great to have you back.

 

[Runum]

Update:
I got covid again, Felt like the flu, tested early. Got monoclonal antibodies within 48 hours of first symptoms. I had couple of rough days and got over it quickly.

Onn the upside, I am back to relearning how to walk with my new leg. This video is October 18, I walked about 100 feet today.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSFVIZ9KjpQ

 

[BizyDad]

Update:
I got covid again, Felt like the flu, tested early. Got monoclonal antibodies within 48 hours of first symptoms. I had couple of rough days and got over it quickly.

Onn the upside, I am back to relearning how to walk with my new leg. This video is October 18, I walked about 100 feet today.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSFVIZ9KjpQ

It's great to see you posting again. Sorry for everything you went through.

From what snippets we got here, you've modeled how to handle adversity incredibly well.

 

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[SteveO]

It's great to see you posting again. Sorry for everything you went through.

From what snippets we got here, you've modeled how to handle adversity incredibly well.

He is one tough SOB!

 

[Guest-5ty5s4]

Update:
I got covid again, Felt like the flu, tested early. Got monoclonal antibodies within 48 hours of first symptoms. I had couple of rough days and got over it quickly.

Onn the upside, I am back to relearning how to walk with my new leg. This video is October 18, I walked about 100 feet today.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSFVIZ9KjpQ

You are an inspiration. So glad you are hanging in there and starting to walk again. We are all rooting for you!

 

[Runum]

Welcome back to health and a speedy recovery Greg. Incredibly awesome!!!

Would love to hear your biographical account of this whole ordeal, how you remained tough and fought through it, sounds like an powerful, inspiring story. Excited to see pics of you and Steve back in nature.

I taught science to 10 year old students for 15 years. I was often their first male teacher and their first science teacher. It was very elementary science so it wasn't hard to dazzle them and keep them engaged. My year included science principals, physical science, earth science(geology & astronomy), and biology(botany, zoology). I called biology "warm and fuzzies" because the students generally performed and responded best to this section by far. What kid doesn't like a cute, fuzzy animal? The challenge was to keep their high level of engagement in all the disciplines. I decided to tie all the sections to the warm and fuzziies by starting the year with one statement. "The number one job of all living things is to survive." Living things have to get the resources to survive each day. The students were of course surprised by that statement because, as I pointed out,, the students live their lives in protected boxes, they travel in boxes with wheels to other protected boxes. For most of them survival is not in question. However, those students the go hunting and camping understood. Those with sick relatives understood. One more day is not always guaranteed. The rest of the year was spent exploring those resources. Always pointing out how this or that affected the living things, animals and plants.

Looking back at my journals, it looks like I showed first signs of illness January 4, 2022. Feeling run down an had the sniffles. Kathy hda it too. We went to the store and got the usual OTC meds, Dayquil, Nyquil, and Mucinex. This was nothing, I had beat theses symptoms several times. The next days were spent doing my usual stuff. I would feel good and strong and then have periods where I felt weaker. I spent most of my days outside and away from large groups so Covid was not on my radar. I gradually got weaker and nauseated. January 12 we went to a corner clinic. They said I tested positive for Covid. They gave me an injection and prescribed a pile of antivirals to take. The next morning I felt amazing, ready to conquer the world. I went back to doing my daily stuff outside and by myself. January 14 the virus was back and it was pissed. I laid on the couch all day trying to kick the bad feelings. Jan 14 was a Friday and I didn't want to head into the weekend needing medical help. I had to make a decision of what to do. I told Kathy I had to go to a real hospital with a real ER now. May oxygen levels were 82%. I couldn't walk so she had to find a couple of guys to help me get into my truck. They got me in the back seat and Kathy had to locate and drive us to the ER in a strange city. Fortunately I had bought her a tablet for our trip so she could help navigate. Normally she would get lost in a paper sack and she carries an old person flip phone. I could only ride along and hope for the best. We arrived at the ER just before dusk and they wheeled me in immediately. The ER was crowded. I spent a little time in the hall before the put me in an ER room. I don't usually get sick and rarely go to the doctor so I am not the ideal patient patient. I was isolated in that ER room as people scurried in and out amid hushed conversations. They poked me with meds and drew blood for tests. They gave me a barf bag to spit into when I coughed crap up. A large woman eventually entered the room and paced around me, assessing me. She told me this was going to be a hard journey and I had to fight. She advised me to get up and out of the bed as often as I could.

After a while Kathy got to come in to get answers to some questions and say goodbye. I was alone with my thoughts and the virus trying to kill me. The ER was black dark at night. I had to figure out how to cope and survive the night. Then, I remembered I had my phone so I cranked up Audible and listened to some Jordan Peterson. After a couple of days they moved me to a room. The whole month of January was spent gasping for my next breath of air. They did try different methods of delivering oxygen to me, CPAP and other tubes and masks. The results were inconsistent. i have a text to my dad where i told him my pulse had been around 180 all day. I remember the nurses telling me I had to calm down or I was going to stroke out. I understood but could not control my breathing. I was panicking and I could not stop the downward spiral. Toward the end of January I had a talk with a doc to express that I wanted all available treatments used to help me. A few days later it all went dark.

They say that I gave them permission to trach me. I probably did, I don't remember. I woke up in March and performed a self assessment. I had a mass of tubes and wires attached to me and I was missing my right leg. I couldn't talk. Also, I was in a different room.

I am told that they kept me sedated with fentanyl and methadone because I kept pulling the tubes and wires off of my body. I do know I had some horrific hallucinations that scared the hell out of me. I don't ever want to take those trips again.

During my state of unconsciousness Kathy took my wallet and smart phone so they wouldn't be lost or stolen. She gave me my phone back when I asked for it. I couldn't comprehend it. I struggled to unlock it. My vision and hand eye coordination were off. I gave her the phone back in frustration.

Now the nights were long and lonely, lying on my back, staring at the ceiling, listening to ventilator as it pumped oxygen through my trach. Fortunately Kathy visited every day and every minute thy allowed her to. Through written messages I asked her questions and she filled in the blanks, which led to more questions. I realized my science lessons had come full circle. The number one job of living things is to survive, and that includes me. As I improved my focus changed from survival to figuring out our future. Kathy was always there, telling me not to quit, not to give up. She verbally painted the picture of our future. She gave me vision when I had none.

I grew strong enough to endure an 8 hour ambulance ride from Brownsville to DFW August1. That was the last leg of our trip. They removed the trach mid August and the feeding tube mid October. I finally left the last hospital September 13.

My therapy is going well. I go to the Center for Neuro Skills 5 days a week. I went through cognitive therapy and testing and it looks like brain damage was minimal. My voice is different now, probably from vocal cord damage due to intubation. I never thought about not being able to eat solid foods but I had to train my mouth muscles to be able to chew and swallow again.

I have some weakness on my left side I a working on. I walked about 475 feet yesterday and I am able to get back into my shop whenever I want to. I am going to have to have my truck modified to drive with hand controls and I have to qualify to get my drivers license back.

We had our bathroom modified with a roll in shower and other accommodations for my wheelchair. I see life from a new perspective now. I see people with disabilities and barriers that were invisible to me before. Assistive technologies and devices are in demand.

Again, thank you all for thinking about me. I was down but the next chapter is still being written 2023 has to be better than 2022 was for me.

Edit: I totally missed the early symptoms and the opportunity to get early intervention, my fault. You need an advocate for you while in the hospital.

 

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[Ravens_Shadow]

Glad to hear you're back home! We met briefly a few years ago at BnP. Thinking about you in this new year Greg.

 

[StrikingViper69]

Wow. Keep fighting - glad you're out the other side of that ordeal.

 

[Bigguns50]

Thank you for sharing this and I'm so happy you are home and doing better. You will have some amazing things happen from this. I am certain.

 

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[Kak]

There are two ways people handle unfortunate a$$ kickings that life sometimes doles out.

The majority take it laying down and adopt victimhood. They let it defeat them.

An impressive minority stand up and fight back.

Good job being an example of fighting back. I’m thankful for your progress Greg.

 

[Runum]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

 

[Parks]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

Have been following your story since you got covid. You are seriously inspiring and one mentally tough son of a gun. How about Iron leg Craig. Thank you for sharing

 

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[DCG]

All anyone can do is educate yourself on the risks and play your hand. I am 62 with no comorbities. I am very active and take care of myself. I contracted covid Jan 4 and have serious covid pneumonia. I am currently in the fight for my life. It can and does happen but I wouldn't want everyone locked down for me.View attachment 41753

Please get well

 

[Guest-5ty5s4]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

Greg, I love your video. Made me cry. You are very inspiring and we all should learn from you. Glad you are back at it and hope you continue to improve

 

[Simon Angel]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

I can only imagine the contrast between the lonely nights spent staring at the ceiling in the ER and now being able to walk on your own again and traveling to such beautiful places.

I've had a similar experience with my own health, and once I was out and "human" again, it felt like I was on the best drugs for months. It's like being a child again or even being born again. The wonder and the excitement. Would you agree? @Runum

BTW, I panicked about my health while in hospitals, too. It led to a severity and outcome that I might have gotten away without if I was more stable and accepting at the time. What really saved me, though, was my drive to not only become as physically able as I was before my troubles, but better. It looks like you're doing the same thing!

Thanks for the video.

P.S. Never stop walking. Walking is the best medicine out there. This is also a reminder to myself because I've been very sedentary the past couple of days despite being young and fully physically capable. But yeah, there's something about walking — both in the scientific and spiritual sense — that pretty much sums up the meaning of life in my opinion.

 

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[heavy_industry]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

Sir, you are a true hero.

I've been reading this thread for a long time. Including during the time while you were unconscious in the hospital. I did not say anything because I did not know what to say. I just prayed that things will turn around. The situation was grim and I was not very optimistic.

When I've seen that you first posted on the forum yourself, it was like a miracle.

And now this video got my eyes tear up.

You are the perfect example of a natural born fighter. You did not take "no" as an answer. Life has presented you with the biggest obstacle you've encountered thus far. You fought, and won.

"Peg leg Greg" or "One leg Greg" as you've said in the video, are not an appropriate description of what's going on here. A more fitting description would be:

• Steel Leg Greg
• Iron Man Greg
• Ghost Leg Greg
• Pirate Greg

Once again, you are a hero.
Thank you for showing us how a true leader acts in the face of mortal catastrophe.

You will continue to recover and improve your health. I wish you all the best.

 

[Tiago]

Life's good One-Leg-Greg! Man you're incredible, the mental toughness of a badass.

 

[StrikingViper69]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

Wow! Glad to hear you're on the mend and it's inspiring to see you taking life by the balls again.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

Incredibly inspiring, awesome attitude, thanks for sharing a real journey of mental toughness.

 

[Runum]

I relate my hospital experience to a prison camp. Most of the medical staff treated me well, although, contract and travel nurses are not the best for patient care. It was amazing to me at how sudden I lost my freedom and how quickly I lost my strength. I was emaciated losing over 50 pounds. the fentanyl caused very real and horrific hallucinations. My monkey brain was on high alert all the time and it was exhausting. When I was finally released from my last hospital it took many months to get over the feeling of being an escaped prisoner. I had to mentally adjust to being out and get over the feeling that they would find me and take me back to the hospital. The ongoing recovery process is mental and physical. I do something every day to keep me active. I read, write, and communicate with other amps that are further than I am on my journey. My future ability vision comes from amputees like Gary Weiland(Ninja Warrior), Ben Lovell( AMP camp Tenerife & AMP camp for kids), and Angie Fowler( Amputee Angie, mother of 5 kids ). Physical strength gives me confidence and improves my mental space. Every new challenge overcome adds more energy to keep me moving forward. I agree, walking is important, everyday. Our eyes are on the front of our head facing forward for a reason, to focus our resources toward our future.

Thank you all for keeping up with my journey and for the kind words. Can't stop, won't stop.

 

[Rabby]

I have had this video in the can for a while. It's time to post it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmT0x42hJDo

Love this.

 

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[Vigilante]

Proud of your fight my friend

 

[ZackerySprague]

Glad your doing well and can't wait to meet you!

 

[LiveEntrepreneur]

I relate my hospital experience to a prison camp. Most of the medical staff treated me well, although, contract and travel nurses are not the best for patient care. It was amazing to me at how sudden I lost my freedom and how quickly I lost my strength. I was emaciated losing over 50 pounds. the fentanyl caused very real and horrific hallucinations. My monkey brain was on high alert all the time and it was exhausting. When I was finally released from my last hospital it took many months to get over the feeling of being an escaped prisoner. I had to mentally adjust to being out and get over the feeling that they would find me and take me back to the hospital. The ongoing recovery process is mental and physical. I do something every day to keep me active. I read, write, and communicate with other amps that are further than I am on my journey. My future ability vision comes from amputees like Gary Weiland(Ninja Warrior), Ben Lovell( AMP camp Tenerife & AMP camp for kids), and Angie Fowler( Amputee Angie, mother of 5 kids ). Physical strength gives me confidence and improves my mental space. Every new challenge overcome adds more energy to keep me moving forward. I agree, walking is important, everyday. Our eyes are on the front of our head facing forward for a reason, to focus our resources toward our future.

Thank you all for keeping up with my journey and for the kind words. Can't stop, won't stop.

Glad to hear you're doing better mate.

 

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[Tammyanne]

Love this.

What a journey...stay strong n yes an Alaska journey you will love it there! Glad your walking again...soon to be hiking.

 

[Runum]

Time for an update. I settled on Fake Leg Greg.

April is Limb Loss/Difference Awareness Month.

Feb 23, 2023 was my one year ampuversary. I rolled into CNS in Sept 2022 with one leg. I told them I wanted to walk out when I left, and I did.

I was discharged from CNS Feb 28.

I still go to PT 2 times a week, working on endurance and balance. I walk or work out every single day. I walked 37:34 and 0.75 miles today on a treadmill. Getting stronger. Can't stop, won't stop.

 

[BizyDad]

Time for an update. I settled on Fake Leg Greg.

April is Limb Loss/Difference Awareness Month.

Feb 23, 2023 was my one year ampuversary. I rolled into CNS in Sept 2022 with one leg. I told them I wanted to walk out when I left, and I did.

I was discharged from CNS Feb 28.
View attachment 48198
I still go to PT 2 times a week, working on endurance and balance. I walk or work out every single day. I walked 37:34 and 0.75 miles today on a treadmill. Getting stronger. Can't stop, won't stop.
View attachment 48199

What a great post. Thank you for having the heart of the champion, the wit of a comedian, and the courage to share your journey. Talk about making lemonade. Haha.

I needed this today.

 

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[heavy_industry]

This is what a true legend looks like.

Your spirit is unbreakable. Thank you for being such an inspiration.

 

[farmer79]

I don’t read the forum as closely as I should and somehow missed this. So happy to hear you are recovering and wanted to say your story/response is absolutely inspirational. Ill be reading your long post to the kids at supper. Thanks again for sharing