CARLYLE - Local residents have known Betty Jack for many years. Born near Parkman, Jack moved to Carlyle several years ago and resides at the Eastview Apartments.
She was extremely well-known as the face of the Bargain Shop for 11 years, taking a leave of absence in March 2020. Now 71 years of age, she has no interest in returning to the work force.
Jack has one daughter, Debbie, five grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Her husband Garry passed away from a heart attack in 2001 and she has had health issues of her own. Nine years ago, she also suffered a heart attack, having to have three stints inserted. She has always had a low immune system, COPD and asthma, and still smokes the occasional cigarette.
Because of her own health issues, during the past two years of this pandemic, she has been careful staying home for the most part and keeping away from crowds. Jack received her first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine in the spring of 2021. On Dec. 13, 2021, she received her Moderna booster shot.
In early January, she attended a small family funeral and a minor hockey tournament in Carlyle the next day. Jack started to feel ill and on Jan. 12 confirmed on Facebook that she had contracted the Omicron variant.
She started a diary and these are her unaltered daily entries:
“I have been very diligent with all the rules, masking, hand sanitizing, distancing and refraining from unnecessary outings. It still got me.”
January 7 – Attended family funeral.
January 8 – Attended U7 Carlyle minor hockey tournament.
January 9 – Learned this afternoon that someone who tested positive was at the same funeral as well as the hockey rink. Started to self-monitor Sunday, had a tickle in my throat and was coughing. Performed self test, negative.
January 10 & 11 – Severe headache, no appetite, and blah feeling. Still showing negative.
January 12 – Woke up, bad headache, cold sweat at 5 a.m. tested positive. Took another test at 8:00 p.m. – positive.
January 13 – Had to sleep sitting up last night, so I wouldn’t cough all night. Thank goodness for Tylenol Cold and Tylenol Extra-strength! Still no appetite but have been drinking hot water and honey. Lungs hurting a bit. In afternoon was completely worn out and felt like I had been beaten up. Tiarah (granddaughter) brought me ginger ale and I drank two bottles within an hour. Gave me some much-needed energy. Scary day today! Called 811 for advice – was told to double up on my nebulizers and to sleep on my side or propped up. Stay away from milk products.
January 14 – Had a better sleep, feeling better than yesterday, other than hot and cold sweats! A friend dropped off some traditional medicine (skunk oil) which I downed and within hours my sinuses and chest loosened up. (It was terrible s*** though and had to gargle several times to get rid of the taste.)
January 15 – Amazing sleep, still testing positive. Just got to get some energy.
January 16 – Sore throat still, glands swollen a bit. Still not much energy. Another great sleep.
January 17 – Good to go. Very thankful for my vaccinations, hot water and honey, chicken noodle soup, and all my cold medications! Outcome could have been so different.”
Thankfully, after an arduous 10-day ordeal, Jack tested negative on Jan. 18 and is now feeling fine. “I am thankful for all of the family and friends that called and checked up on me. I have a very low immune system, COPD, Asthma, heart and kidney disease, and am a pre-diabetic. I honestly feel that being triple vaccinated kept me out of the hospital.”
