An Ode to Valley Fever
Breathe them in
To the lungs
Airborne filaments and spores
In the warm, moist pleura
Spots and spingles form
Then plan
Their next move
~
For most
It is mild,
This inner invasion
~It means~
Fever, cough, chills, ache
Perhaps a rough, red rash
~
Six months
A year
You’re better
~
For others
Even twenty years later
Fever, weight loss, cough, chest pain
Blood-tinged sputum
Nodules to blame
But you don’t die
~
For the vulnerable few
Lung growths, ulcers, abrasions form
Skull, spine and bone lesions, the norm
Knees, ankles, other joints ache
The brain and spinal cord join in
Forsake
~
Recourse?
Rest
Fluconazole
Itraconazole
~But perhaps most important~
Learn the lessons
Do your best
This may be
The final test.
A few years ago, my dear friend died from a mad conflagration of valley fever and lung cancer. This piece emerged from that experience.
For the latest information regarding Coccidioidomycosis, commonly called Valley Fever, click here.
I’d never heard of this. It sounds brutal, even in its mildest form.
I think in America we forget that people can (and do) die of infectious diseases until someone dies of pneumonia or strep or meningitis.
I’m sorry for your friend, for your loss.
oh my – this is a tough topic but you mastered the write very well…sorry for the loss of your friend kim…
Gosh, I hadn’t heard of Valley Fever, but your poem certainly describes well the pain of any lung disease. So sorry for your loss..
Very informational and wonderfully written… sorry about your friend.
Enjoy each and every day!
This piece just aches, beautiful ~ Rose
ugh. dont know if i have ever read such a description in poetic form…finely tuned but onmy way to get some vitamin c…smiles.
I’ll take that as a compliment, Brian. ;-)