For the myriad of inconveniences that have already come our way and for the ones that surely will come, we have to be aware we are being tested. Most people go through life and never face such challenges, an accident of life that zeroed right in on us, in the here and now. Aristotle’s words come to mind, words that have stayed with me and so many other people when facing sudden challenges “THE IDEAL PERSON BARES THE ACCIDENTS OF LIFE WITH DIGNITY AND GRACE, MAKING THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

For those who are a tad cynical about some of the measures being put in place in order to prevent the spread of  Coronavirus, I offer that age-old saying by Geroge Santayana” THOSE WHO CANNOT LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.” It may not be the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed 50 to 100 million souls worldwide, 5% of the world’s population. It may not be (YET) the Asian Flu of 1957 which killed 70,000 Americans, or the Hong Kong Flu of 1968-69 which killed 33,000 Americans but rest assured the Coronavirus is infecting and killing people at an alarming rate. Enough so that intervention is starting to become a rather annoying inconvenience to lots of people’s lives and has disrupted so many plans and events some folks are angry. I’m not a history teacher, or the sky is falling sort of person but a little history might help those great annoyed among us.

It’s chilling to recall that back in 1918 there were no Vaccines (this is going to sound so familiar like nothing changed)” SO THE ONLY METHOD THEY HAD OF FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC WERE QUARANTINE, GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES, DISINFECTANTS, AND LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS.” So far in Illinois, all schools have been closed, gatherings of 100 or more people have been banned, most museums and theatres have been closed down, the St. Patricks day Parades have all been canceled, no major sports are functioning, professional and College alike. All casinos and sports gambling venues are closed. O’Hare airport in Chicago right now has thousands of people in lines awaiting testing and authorities are saying it will get far worse.

As of this post, the Governor of Illinois just announced all bars and restaurants will be closed as of Monday to dine-in customers, no doubt alarmed by some people’s indifferent attitude toward an announced Pandemic and National emergency declared in the United States. Leadership no doubt is heading George Santayana’s sage advice.

The Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 reached virtually every Country, it killed so many people so quickly that some cities were forced to resort to converting Streetcars into Hearses. The first cases of Spanish Flu were reported on March 4th, 1918 at Fort Reilly in Kansas, it had spread to most American cities in the U.S. and then onward to Europe following in the path of American Soldiers who crossed the Atlantic that spring in an effort to close out the first World war.

The Spanish Flu struck in 3 waves from March 1918 to the spring of 1919. The first wave of the Flu was disastrous but by mid-summer, it subsided. However, a few months later it resurfaced. It was the same Virus but it had mutated into something much more virulent and the deadly Pandemic spread quickly around the world and became a deadly killer that wiped out 5% of the human population, before running its course. Can we afford not to do everything in our power to avoid another 1918?  “History, as they say, does not repeat itself, BUT IT RHYMES.” Stay safe and smart.

In far too many circles, ex-NBA star Charles Barkley is profoundly revered for his “honesty”.  As a regular contributor to NBA TV  broadcasts, he has a long history of instant,  unabashed expatiation on any topic under discussion, no matter how deep and sluggishly his ignorance runs.  Most of it is harmless enough, I suppose.

But  last week in an appearance on Colbert, when asked  about how America should behave in response to the existential menace of the Coronavirus, he hesitated with an opinion for about as long as a St. Bernard rushes to slobber up a vat of Alpo. He reassured the millions of viewers that life should proceed as normal, period. He offered no cautions, no narrow strand of equivocation.  Most, I guess, would describe it as Barkley barking out with his characteristic “honesty.”  I wonder if Rudy Golbert, probably a Barkley admirer, did, before he playfully  settled the virus on his friend and teammate, Donavan Mitchell and who-knows-how-many others.

So maybe it’s time to think about redefining the word Honest. Maybe it’s time to draw a distinction between “Honesty” and “Candor.”  What Barkley chronically engages in is mere candor, not honesty. If he had been earnestly honest in responding to Colbert’s question, he would have modestly, faintly intoned, “Sorry, I though I know everybody is entitled to an opinion on any subject, I’m afraid I won’t render one on this one, because I know nothing about it.”

Which brings me to  this entreaty aimed at all.  I know that today–thanks to the mountain ranges of social media — one and all are allowed  voice–helter-skelter–any of their views. But before you indulge, ask yourself this question: Have I actually studied this matter by referencing responsible books, articles, lectures, etc. from responsible experts?  And while you’re at the exercise of self-questioning, ask yourself when the the last time you read a respectable book, magazine, newspaper, etc. …or if you’ve ever read anything all since your jailbreak from formal education.

If your honest  answer brings you up short, please shut up.

This blog post is the nineteenth in a series about my (and my twin sister’s) preventative breast cancer screening journey that began when we were 30 years old in July 2019. The first post is about my first mammogram ever; the second post is about my consultation at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the third post is about my stereotactic core biopsy at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the fourth post is about my diagnosis with “Stage 0” DCIS breast cancer; the fifth post is about my in-person DCIS diagnosis at Mayo Clinic, beginning thoughts on my surgery timeline, and discovering that my twin sister might have breast cancer, too; the sixth post is about my twin sister’s invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stage 2A breast cancer diagnosis; the seventh post is about my breast MRI and two ultrasounds to investigate “suspicious” spots on my right breast and liver; the eighth post is about my second DCIS diagnosis following a week of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies at Mayo Clinic; the ninth post is about preparing for my twin sister’s chemotherapy appointments, including details about her egg banking procedure in the city; the tenth post is a summary of my sister’s ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and visit to the emergency room; the eleventh post is a summary of my double mastectomy surgery plan scheduled to occur on December 3rd, 2019 at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Campus Hospital in Rochester; the twelfth post is about my twin sister’s first chemotherapy infusion at Mayo Clinic; the thirteenth post is about foobs, photo shoots and nipple tattoos (my plastic / reconstructive surgery plan); the fourteenth post is a recap of my successful double mastectomy and immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction operation; the fifteenth post is about my surgical recovery and day full of follow-up appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; the sixteenth post is about my one-month-post-surgical-follow-up appointment and preventative baseline ovarian cancer screenings at Mayo Clinic; the seventeenth post is about a suspicious rash I developed a month after my surgery called “pigmented purpura,” my consultation with a gynecological oncologist about ovarian cancer prevention, and my sister’s fifth chemotherapy infusion; and the eighteenth post is about the end of my twin sister’s six neoadjuvant chemotherapy infusions (TCHP). To keep tabs on new posts, sign up for the “A Daily Miracle” email list at this link.

Here we are with our husbands ready for a day full of meetings with my sister’s surgeons and doctors to talk over her surgical plan! We even had a Mayo volunteer photobomb 🙂

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

I’ve officially hit the three-month mark of surgical recovery and breast cancer survivorship, and my plastic surgeon said things appear to be going well and that I look “awesome.” I am grateful for the prayers of so many who have been holding me up and I do not take this healing for granted! My next appointment will be my 6-month post-op appointment at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic Survivorship Clinic on June 5, 2020, followed by my 12-month-post-op appointment with my plastic surgeon in December 2020. 

Looking to the immediate future, my twin sister heads into her double mastectomy with reconstruction at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Methodist Hospital this coming Friday, March 20th! We had a day full of appointments with her doctors and surgeons at Mayo Clinic this past week, and it was an amazing reminder of the blessing it is for us to be in the hands of some of the best doctors and surgeons in the world.

Also, her coworkers have been amazing: Last week, they hosted a “bandana/scarf Friday” (pictured above and below). My sister has lost some of her hair due to chemo treatments and she wears head scarfs and hats most days of the week so the lawyers and staffers at her law firm wore head scarfs to support her!! They took a group photo together which is the featured photo at the top of this post and I also wanted to put the photo in here again below because it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. I went to my sister’s office with two of our best friends and my baby sister to surprise her that morning with bagels because we wanted to be part of the “Bandana Friday,” too 🙂

Lawyers and staffers at my twin sister’s law firm had a “bandana/scarf day” to support her as she lost some of her hair during her chemo treatments this past few months and has been wearing head scarfs and bandanas to work! Her coworkers got together and wore head scarfs and bandanas in solidarity! They are the best coworkers ever 🙂

I went with two of our best friends and baby sister to visit my sister’s law firm on the morning of her firm’s “bandana/scarf” Friday to show solidarity and support!

COVID-19 and breast cancer risks

It’s overwhelming to think about all that’s happened between when our journey began in July 2019 and where we are now, but things like supportive coworkers and amazing doctors at Mayo Clinic remind us that God is good and we can trust Him to carry us through this next chapter–as we look forward to my sister conquering cancer through chemo and surgery in the midst of the most intense viral outbreak modern history has ever seen.

The day before our visit to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Emergency Room, which was a bit too close for comfort to us given we were heading to Mayo Clinic 24 hours later. It was a clear reminder that God is in charge and we are not. We are doing everything in our power to keep my sister safe from infection, and in addition to that, we are storming heaven with prayers for her health, the health of the people around her, and for her doctors and surgeons to maintain their health as well so they can carry out a completely successful operation this coming Friday!

Obviously, nobody wants to contract COVID-19, but especially not an immunocompromised chemotherapy patient heading into a double mastectomy like my sister. All that to say, my sister’s mastectomy surgeon, plastic surgeon, and oncologist were all in agreement that it is “very important” for her to work from home this week to minimize any exposure she has to the outside world until her surgery is all over because having to push back her surgery date for any reason–common cold, flu, COVID-19–would be less than ideal given she just wrapped up 6 rounds of chemo that her cancer has been VERY responsive to. Her medical team wants to make sure they get any and all remaining cancer out of her system ASAP! 

In the meantime, instead of being scared, I am trying to remember that we can trust that the God who carried us through all of our cancer diagnoses, treatments, and especially my sister’s less-than-1-percent-of-the-population’s case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome will not only carry us through my sister’s surgery, but He will carry us through the outbreak of coronavirus/COVID-19 as well.

Trusting God through stressful times like these is easier said than done, I know, but is definitely worth saying out loud! 

Here we are in our matching t-shirts waiting for the first meeting with doctors of the day!

My twin sister’s double mastectomy with reconstruction plan

In light of her awesome response to her chemotherapy treatments, my sister’s surgeons green-lit the plan for her to do direct-to-implant/immediate reconstruction with silicone implants at time of surgery, just like I did! So that is “Plan A” for her surgery coming up this Friday–to have a double mastectomy followed by immediate/direct-to-implant reconstruction and to wake up with reconstruction complete!

“Plan B” for her will be “delayed reconstruction,” which will only occur if she needs radiation treatment for any reason. Delayed reconstruction means she’d have tissue expanders placed instead of implants at time of surgery that would be filled with saline until her “exchange surgery” when they’d insert the implants 6 months down the road. Delayed reconstruction would take place if she needs radiation for any of the following reasons: 1) If she has cancer in her lymph nodes at time of surgery, 2) If there is a “positive margin” / chest wall involvement at time of surgery, or 3) If they find a tumor larger than 5cm at time of surgery. If any of these things happen and radiation is needed, delayed reconstruction will take place which means silicone tissue expanders will be placed at the time of operation. The tissue expanders would be filled halfway with saline solution while she’s on the operating table, then will be filled with more saline solution twice more over the span of 6 months while radiation takes place. Ultimately, the tissue expanders filled with saline will be exchanged with silicone “gummy bear” implants like I have, 6 months down the road.

This is our prayer: For no cancer to be remaining in my sister’s system at time of surgery due to a “complete pathological response!” This way, not only will she wake up with reconstruction complete, but she won’t need any more chemotherapy after surgery! All that to say, here is a preview of my sister’s upcoming week:

• On Thursday, March 19th, she and her husband will head down to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for her to get injected with radioactive nuclear sentinel nodes that will embed in her system before surgery. This nuclear sentinel nodes will show whether or not the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes. If her cancer has spread to her lymph nodes, there is a chance that she’ll need radiation after her operation, and more chemotherapy–a new, targeted regimen called T-DM1–as well. If it hasn’t spread to her lymph nodes (we are praying she has a complete pathological response with no cancer remaining in her system!!!), she will only need some Herceptin, administered via IV or subcutaneously, every three weeks for several months. She will need 3-5 years of Tamoxifen, administered orally, after the operation no matter what. 
• On Friday, March 20th, she will go into Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Methodist Hospital to check in for her double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, which will take 4-6 hours. Woohoo!
• On Saturday, March 21st, she gets to go home! Assuming all is going well with surgical recovery, my sister will wake up and get discharged from the hospital. Also, just like mine!, her bandages will be waterproof which means she can shower as soon as the day after surgery! What!!!
• For 4-6 weeks, she is required to essentially do nothing except read books and watch movies. Like me, it will be difficult for her to slow down and accept help with everything she does, but she’ll learn. 🙂

We got a tour of the historic Plummer Building at Mayo Clinic in Rochester from a wonderful tour guide named “Guy!”

Q&A with my sister’s doctors and surgeons

On December 3rd, 2019, I had a double mastectomy with direct-to-implant/immediate reconstruction to remove my Stage 0 DCIS breast cancer (you can read the details about my operation here). Because my twin sister had Stage 2A invasive cancer instead of Stage 0 and has already gone through 6 rounds of chemotherapy, her surgical plan is to essentially do the same thing that I did on December 3rd with a few differences. Here are some of the major questions we asked her doctors and surgeons about that:

“Can you remove her port?” 

Because my sister had to go through chemotherapy, she had a port put into her chest at the beginning of her chemotherapy journey. She would like to have it removed during her double mastectomy so she can continue on with any treatment needed after her surgery with an IV instead of a port. So yes–her mastectomy surgeon said she would “love” to remove my sister’s port during the operation so that she can have whatever remaining treatment is to come after surgery through an IV instead of a port!

“What kind of treatment will she need after surgery?”

My sister’s oncologist is going to make a lot of decisions about post-operative treatments as soon as the pathology report comes back from the tissue tested at the time of her operation, but the whole team is “optimistic” that she won’t need radiation after her operation. Rather, she will need either “chemotherapy light”–a regimen called “T-DM1“–or Herceptin, which can potentially be administered subcutaneously instead of with an IV. Either option will be administered every three weeks for several months. The good news is that neither one will suppress her immune system and neither one should cause hair loss, either!

Based on a research study her oncologist cited, T-DM1 is especially effective for HER2+ breast cancer patients, especially if any cancer is remaining at time of surgery that is less than 5mm, and potentially between 2mm and 2cm. Patients in the clinical trial in this category gained benefit from T-DM1 rather than Herceptin by itself.

In addition to T-DM1 or Herceptin, my sister will take Tamoxifen, an oral medication, for 3-5 years after her operation for long-term maintenance. Side effects are minimal with this as well and it shouldn’t cause hair loss, either. Also, because my sister is in menopause due to her chemotherapy treatments, her oncologist said her ovaries should recover or “wake up” at any point in the 1-2 years following the end of her chemotherapy treatments!

“Do patients ever poop on the operating table? And if they do, what happens??”

We asked our plastic surgeon this. She smiled and said: “Yes, this happens, and it’s actually called a ‘Code Brown.'”

NO WAY!!! We laughed.

“Really??” we asked.

“Yes. When it happens, we call a ‘Code Brown,’ clean it up, then we keep going.”

We couldn’t believe it. My sister’s husband asked: “So wait, do you tell a patient that happened after the operation?”

Our surgeon said, “If they ask.”

So I asked, “Did I do that during my operation??”

Our surgeon laughed and said, “No, you did not.”

I was relieved!

Here is my twin sister and her husband waiting to see the plastic surgeon! It was a great day of appointments with her oncologist and surgeons!

“Do you absolutely have to take out some of my sister’s lymph nodes as part of this operation and if so, on one or both sides?”

Yes–because my sister has has invasive cancer on her left side, they will take all of the sentinel lymph nodes on her left side. The average number of sentinel lymph nodes they take on each side is 2.6, but it can range anywhere from 2 to 9. If they find invasive cancer on the right side, they will take the sentinel nodes on that side, as well. “Axial lymph node dissection”–taking more than just the 2 to 9 sentinel lymph nodes–will only occur if cancer is found in one or more of her sentinel lymph nodes. With axial lymph node dissection, there is a 3 to 7 percent risk of developing lymphedema or swelling of the arms. That’s another one of our prayers: That axial lymph node dissection won’t be needed, but if it is, that lymphedema doesn’t happen! 

“Is it possible that cancer can spread through my body other than through the sentinel lymph nodes?”

Our mastectomy surgeon told my sister: “There could be disease elsewhere–for example, in the axillary nodes, but not in the sentinel nodes–but that’s not likely.”

“What is her reconstruction timeline / when can she swing a golf club again??”

Our plastic surgeon said that it’s safe to say this summer my sister can plan to work on her short game! But that, 6 months after delayed reconstruction is a safe bet for the exchange surgery, and 1-2 months after that for swinging a golf club. With immediate reconstruction, it could be as soon as later this summer but may not be a full swing!

“My sister is allergic to nickel, and there is nickel in the implants. Will that be a problem?”

Our plastic surgeon said the casing of the implant should protect my sister from any sort of allergic reaction to nickel that might be in the implants, and that she’s never had a patient have an adverse reaction to nickel in the implants. However, she recognized that there is always a chance a reaction could happen and she’s prepared to cross that bridge when it comes with my sister if needed. 🙂

“What should I know about breast implant illness and breast implant recalls? Do you do explant surgeries?”

According to our plastic surgeon, breast implant illness consists of a “constellation of symptoms” which makes it difficult to formally diagnose. (In January I thought I might have breast implant illness because I developed a mysterious rash and was super fatigued but after going to the dermatologist and getting diagnosed with pigmented purpura I feel better now and the rash is getting much better.)

Our plastic surgeon can count on one hand the number of patients she’s seen with symptoms of breast implant illness, and only one person’s symptoms went away after an explant surgery. All of the other patients’ symptoms persisted. So, she recognizes some women have trouble/problems with implants, and she does do explant surgery if needed. She said she would be happy to discuss that if it’s ever needed–as long as she’s not retired. 🙂

“How long do implants last / when do we need to get new implants?”

Typically, implants last around 10 years. Formally, it’s fairly standard to start getting MRI imaging of the implants at year 3, then every 2 years after that to check and see if the implants are leaking or if they are still viable. There is some contention over whether or not insurance should cover imaging like this, but because we had implants due to cancer in the past, our plastic surgeon said it should be an easier conversation.

“Should we not visit hospital after her surgery?”

There is a possibility visitors will be limited to 1-2 per patient by this Friday 3/20 but at this point our whole family is planning to show up after her operation to check on her and see how she’s doing!

Here I am all ready to see my plastic surgeon for my three-month surgical follow-up! She said I look “awesome!”

My three-month double mastectomy with reconstruction plastic surgery updates

I got to meet with our plastic surgeon right before my sister did, and we discussed how I’m doing three months after my operation! Highlights of my three-month double mastectomy with reconstruction plastic surgery updates included talking with my plastic surgeon about nipple tattoos. With regard to nipple tattoos, my plastic surgeon said I can do one of three things: 1) Nothing, keeping my scars like they are (lots of women do this!) 2) Get nipple tattoos from licensed plastic surgeons at Mayo Clinic or from a licensed artist anywhere in the country or 3) Buy stick-on nipples to wear. I told her I’m planning on not doing anything because I like my scars the way they are and they’re free! She smiled and said that sounded like a good plan.

We also discussed my gummy bear implants, which are “looking great.” Unfortunately, gummy bear implants can leak, but often you don’t exhibit symptoms for that. So, with regard to monitoring for a leaking implant and/or for breast implant illness, our plastic surgeon said to call for an appointment immediately if any of the following symptoms arise: signs of infection, redness, tenderness, changes in shape, new lumps or bumps, or sudden weight changes. If anything like this happens she wants to see me immediately. Otherwise, we have an appointment for December 2020 for my one-year checkup!

Also, one thing Mayo recommends is antibiotics before any invasive dental work because if an infection takes place the infection could settle on the implants and put my life in danger. 

We also discussed my rash, which she thought was weird. But she was glad dermatology took care of it (for the most part)!

My twin sister and I decided to play a piano duet called “Let the Good Times Roll!” in the lobby of the Gonda Building after the appointments! We even got applause 🙂 There’s a video of us playing the song embedded at the bottom of this post 🙂

Next steps

We so appreciate prayers for my twin sister who goes in for her double mastectomy with reconstruction at Mayo Clinic in Rochester this Friday! We are praying specifically and boldly for the following, and will post updates as soon as she’s settled back at home!:

• Prayers for no cancer to remain in her system at time of the operation!
• Prayers for protection from COVID-19 for her, her caretakers, and for her doctors, surgeons, and nurses! (and for everyone in the world but specifically for these people :))
• A verse that has been especially encouraging: Ephesians 3:20-21: That God, who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” would heal her completely!!!

I know things feel scary and people are worried. I am too. I followed the guidelines and precautions and stayed home all weekend except for a 20-minute walk today and felt the weight of the news and social media posts with each step. As I walked though I noticed the sun was shining and the grass is turning green, again. It reminded me how important what we focus on is to our wellbeing. I am generally a person who looks for the good in life like the title of my blog states, but I needed to remind myself today to do that. I know how vital it is to find and focus on the positive aspects of my life, the people and the things that make me happy and feel good. I want to encourage you to join me in looking for that feeling of “good” in these difficult times.

The good I found today and will focus on is:

1. I am healthy
2. I have food, clothing and shelter
3. My family and friends are safe
4. I have a job and life insurance
5. We are taking precautions to keep people safe

Where can you find the good today?

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All through my day, no matter where I go, or what I do, I am always looking for the good in people, in the world, in my life or even just in my day.

#LookingForTheGood

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In September of 2018, Travis Miller, webmaster of Hammer and Rails.com (SB Nation’s Purdue community), and myself recorded a podcast about the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic and the 1918 World Series (listen at this link). The fifth edition of “Let’s Get Weird, Sports,” a history/sports series of pods, it covered the Cubs’ loss to the Boston Red Sox in that fall classic, but mostly focused on the flu pandemic.

That specific show centered around a book that had just come out at the time and that I had just finished reading: Skip Desjardins’ September 1918: War, Plague, and the World Series. I also interviewed the author by phone, and you can listen to that session over at this link. In 1918, the authorities downplayed the severity of the flu at first, throwing out all kinds of bizarre explanations and “answers.”

They said all we needed was a cold snap, then a warm up, then some rain. Citizens were told don’t spit on the sidewalk, it spreads that way. Misinformation was so pervasive and so far out in left field that the reason this influenza pandemic was called “The Spanish Flu” is an interesting story in itself.

Spain was neutral during WWI, therefore their media was not strongly censored by the state. They were the only country reportedly on the epidemic accurately and truthfully, because they weren’t worried about showcasing a weakness to the other side like the other nations were.

The so-called Spanish Flu is largely believed to have begun in Kansas, although there is an alternate theory that it began with Chinese workers closely confined in Canadian rail cars.

That pandemic killed 650,000 Americans, and more people globally than both world wars. Now that we’ve been over the misinformation and propaganda of a century ago, let’s go over the propaganda and misinformation of today.

Then at the end, we’ll go over what we can do to help do our part and try to “FlattenTheCurve

First, let’s take a moment to remember that 17 days ago President Trump called COVID-19 a “democratic hoax,” and claimed: “When you have 15 people, and that 15, within a couple of days, is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done.”

Today that “15” is now nearing 4,000.  Take a look at this tweet below:

In 12 days, we went from “hoax” to a ban on travel from Europe pic.twitter.com/hxNeGPWtFp

— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) March 12, 2020

Let’s remember though that it’s not just Trump. It’s also his state television network, FOX News and their sister channel, FOX Business. At this moment, Trish Regan, once a very respected national journalist (quite a long time ago) put herself in the same category as “Tami” or “that curly haired gun girl.”

If you follow the news, you know who both of those people are without any further explanation.

It's frightening and extremely dangerous that you still have a platform of any kind at this point. I'm old enough to remember when you, like @LouDobbs, were actual journalists. Both of you long sold out your integrity to become #maga propagandists https://t.co/ITjpw111H3

— Paul Maximilian Banks (@PaulMBanks) March 12, 2020

Next we take you to T Dog Media , a local Chicago media outlet review blog, telling it exactly like it is. Trump said in April this will just disappear because it’s warmer. He also added that it will “be beautiful.” (okay that’s weird)

Anyway, no, there is no evidence that coronavirus will or won’t phase out in conjunction with warmer weather.

"It will disappear". Yeah, what disappeared instead was our sports, entertainment, the way we live, and our sense of security. https://t.co/Xer6fb98Mh

— T Dog Media (@tdogmedia) March 13, 2020

Next we turn to the NPR report which exposed Trump has repressing testing capacity, because he thought that an increase of confirmed cases would result in more disapproval of his job and it would then hurt his re-election chances.

Think that’s fake news? Okay, consider what did Trump repeatedly say about that cruise ship off the coast of San Francisco. He literally said that he didn’t want the passengers to disembark because that would increase the number of cases in the United States.

He said, straight-forwardly, he didn’t want the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. to go up. That’s literally who he is.

"tired of so much winning" #maga #kag #TrumpTrain people? was "owning the libs" worth this?

Happy now that you voted a malignantly narcissist and openly racist former game show host into office? https://t.co/LcCVm4x6MZ

— Paul Maximilian Banks (@PaulMBanks) March 13, 2020

The last tweet we will look at it is this chart from the Washington Post. The city of Philadelphia, despite the Spanish Flu pandemic being in full swing, held the war time, patriotic parades that had been planned. Within two days, their hospitals were overcapacity.

St. Louis, on the other hand, heeded the warnings and engaged in what we now call “Social Distancing.” Take a look.

Really interesting chart from @washingtonpost: The impact social distancing had in the 1918-20 Spanish Flu epidemic. #COVID19 #FlattenTheCurve pic.twitter.com/4Xab7Jd99w

— Matt Ridley (@mattwridley) March 13, 2020

I say this as one of those people who often likes to say “March Madness is the best time of year” I’m hurting right now; badly. I’m seriously depressed because of what was happened in the past few days. So much that I love and enjoy was taken away from me within less than half of a week.

Of course, I’m going to be down. That said, I actually withdrew my credentials for college basketball tournaments this month, as well as credential applications for the upcoming spring and summer sports BEFORE they cancelled them. I withdrew from just about everything that I signed up and committed to, this month and next, before it got suspended and postponed. So although I’m very down, I quickly realized what I had to, the sacrifices I had to make, before I had no choice.

I went on self-quarantine, self-isolation, lockdown, whatever you want to call it. I have a month’s worth of food and nine packages of Lysol wipes.

Can we curate a list of things people can do, while stuck at home?

Feel free to post links to things people might enjoy doing from home while many of us are stuck isolating.

— Dominick Evans (@dominickevans) March 13, 2020

I’ve been wearing gloves, using hand-sanitizer, wearing masks and engaging in diligent and obsessive hand-washing for days upon weeks already. All I can say at this point is, engage in those habits yourself.

Follow the advice of the hashtags #StayAtHome #StayTheEffHome #StayTheFHome

Or as one very frequently re-tweeted Twitter post said: “the older generation was asked to go to war. You’re being asked to stay on your couch.”

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No,  I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation. 

You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.

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Due to the Coronavirus, most Chicago bookstores are closed to customer traffic, but open for business in other creative ways. Many are offering curbside service, free delivery, and reading recommendations for quarantines. Most events are cancelled and some will be rescheduled. Subscribe to your favorite bookstores’ newsletters and follow them on social media to stay up to date. I’ll continue to add and update, but call ahead if you need a bookstore fix. It seems like a new chapter every hour. (No word yet on the fate of Independent Bookstore Day.)

Please continue to support your local bookseller! Although I hate spreading apocalyptic stories – we’ve all heard enough – independent bookstores could be among virus fatalities without our ongoing support. As the crisis unfolded in China, many of its bookstores struggled to survive. Overall, Chinese private bookstores reported a 90 percent drop in revenue. Chicago’s book community is rallying for their customers and I’m hoping we say to them “backatcha” and all come out of this as unscathed (and well-read) as possible.

Here’s what I know so far:

The Book Stall

UPDATE 8:50 p.m., Sunday, March 15:

“The Book Stall prides itself on being a community bookstore, a gathering place, and a locus for the exchange of news and ideas. Recent developments concerning the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and directives from local and state governments prompt us to take our part in continuing to be your good neighbor. To that end, we are closing our doors to foot traffic beginning Monday, March 16.”

Free deliveries to nearby suburbs, all other deliveries 99 cents or $3.95 for two-day delivery. Curbside service also available.

I needed a bookstore fix this morning, but found this sign on the Book Stall’s door. By 8:56 p.m., everything had changed.

Volumes Bookcafé

For now: open, but closing early. Some events are canceled. Shipping is free.

“As more and more people will end up homebound, we know that Netflix can’t keep your sanity forever. Books are here for you! Follow us on twitter or instagram or facebook to keep up to date or just chat with your fellow bookish humans. As always, we are here for you. We know many rely on us and the conversations we have. We are here. You can always email us or call us, too! If you opt for home delivery, be warned that we might sneak a fun gift in there for you as well.”

Quimby’s

Open until further notice.

Women & Children First

Still open. Sanitizing procedures in effect. “As of today, our ticketed events with N.K. Jemisin (March 31), Samantha Irby & Megan Stielstra (April 14) and Rebecca Solnit & Eula Biss ( April 23) have not been cancelled. Circumstances are changing quickly, though, so we will update you if and when they do. Also, please note that the books attendees receive with their tickets will be pre-signed. For everyone’s health and safety, book signings and photo lines will likely not be possible in the coming months.”

“Events and gatherings have always been the soul of our bookstore—the thing that sets us apart from corporate monoliths. Now is the time to look forward and imagine what a community space is, what it means, and what it needs to be when gathering puts our most vulnerable at risk. We thank you for your support as we continue to build our feminist future together. With love & thanks.”

Seminary Co-Op

The bookstore is closed until further notice, but you can still order online and shipping is free. Follow on social media for reading recommendations and the Co-Op’s regular feature “The Front Table.”

“As we reimagine the ways we can serve you during this uncertain time, your support is more crucial than ever. The Co-op remains committed to supporting inquiry, measure, contemplation, connection, and community. It is with gratitude and humility that we will help see each other through these uncertain times.”

57^th Street Books

Closed until further notice but website is open 24/7. Free shipping!

Powell’s

“As of today, it is our hope that we will be able to keep the store open as a place of calm and escape from the uncertainty around us.” As always, shipping is available.

Bookends & Beginnings

Suspending in-store business starting Monday, March 16. “Offering Online & Phone Service and Speedy Same-Day Delivery Instead!”

“YOU need fun, diversion, uplift, and constructive family activities. WE are going to fatten up our inventory of puzzles, games, flash cards, activity books, crosswords, and guided journals.”

Also offering “$1 SAME-DAY HOME DELIVERY FOR ANY SIZE ORDER to Evanston, Wilmette, Rogers Park, and Skokie (applies to orders placed by 3 pm for in-stock items only; if we have to special order something, we’ll get it to you the day it comes in). WE will also continue to offer 99 cent media-mail shipping to anywhere in the continental U.S. If you already have a special order in the system, we’ll deliver it for free when it comes in.”

The Book Bin

Temporarily closed, but “we will continue to bend over backwards to help you get recommendations and access to the best assortment of books to meet all your reading and gifting needs.  We will continue to answer the phones, make recommendations and help you choose books that we will creatively deliver to you.  After cleaning our hands we will select your books and make them available for pick up outside the front or back door.”

Open Books

The store is closed until March 30, but you can order online. Free shipping for all orders over $10.

The Book Table

Still open as of March 13. Offering curbside service. “We currently have hand sanitizer and wipes at the counter for frequent use (though, honestly, if you have more than you can use, we’d accept donations because we’re a little nervous about running out!) We are frequently sanitizing shared surfaces, and please know that we do accept contactless payments: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all credit cards with the tap symbol are accepted.

Our website, www.booktable.net, as always, is fully shoppable, and in addition to USPS shipping for as low as $3.99, starting Monday, March 16th, we will offer $3 local delivery to Oak Park and River Forest customers. Orders for in-stock merchandise placed before noon will be delivered the same day.”

Anderson’s Bookshops

Still open as of now. “Our booksellers will tell you where to pull up and then run your purchases out to your car!”

Roscoe Books

Closed, but offering curbside pick-up and free home delivery within Roscoe Village. $1 shipping everywhere else.