KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A coronavirus patient from Santa Clarita and owner of KHTS Radio, Carl Goldman, is continuing to share his story after contracting COVID-19 after the Diamond Princess cruise.
Back In The States With The Coronavirus – Day 20 (Monday)
No fever for five days. Whoo-hoo! My cough is better. It lingers, improving each day.
I have learned a third passenger on our ship, the Diamond Princess, has died from the coronavirus, COVID-19. So very tragic.
The ship is now empty, with close to 700 victims. Passengers and crew members came down with the virus. Old and young, it spared no ethnic group. Healthy and not so healthy, it appears to be completely random as to who picks up the virus and who doesn’t. I have the coronavirus, COVID-19.
This is my eighth day in quarantine at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. My wife, Jeri, is quarantined three blocks away on our medical campus. She remains free of the virus.
Today my medical team delivered a “Happy Birthday” balloon and card. It’s two days past my 67th birthday. I’m touched with their thoughtfulness. Apparently, there is some weird Nebraska law not allowing balloons to be delivered over the weekends. It’s similar to the “blue law” in Colorado not allowing beer to be sold in grocery stores on Sunday. Coloradans can purchase pot seven days a week, but beer on Sunday is forbidden.
My balloon sits by my double-insulated window, above my stash of straws, looking out. I imagine it would love to escape. I can relate.
The mylar helium balloon will probably become another item in California that will disappear. I’m sure the environmentally over-conscious state will have balloons on the soon-to-be-banned list. Plastic bags, straws, paper cups and butt wipes already have become a thing of the past. Some enterprising entrepreneur will build a museum for all the things banned in California.
Our traveling friend, Jerri Jorgenson, remains in her hospital in Fukushima, Japan. She has the coronavirus. Although she has been free of any signs of the virus for well over a week, she tested positive again last night. Big bummer. She, like me, will have to receive two negative tests, 24 hours apart, to be free of the virus and no longer contagious.
Jerri’s husband, Mark, remains virus-free. He’s quarantined at Travis Air Force base outside of Sacramento, California.
My wife, Jeri, is also free of the coronavirus, COVID-19. It is totally random. There is no reason why Jerri Jorgensen and I should have it while our spouses remain negative. Fingers crossed they’ll test negative on March 2 and be allowed to leave their quarantine.
I’d like to clarify once again misinformation about us that is still circulating on social media. I did not know I had the coronavirus until I tested positive in Omaha last Monday. Let me repeat that. I did NOT know.
Immediately after we learned our friend, Jerri Jorgensen, tested positive while we were quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess in Yokohama, Japan, my wife, Jeri, and I were tested. The results of that test were unknown to us when we departed back to the States.
I didn’t show signs of the virus until two hours into our flight from Tokyo when I woke with high fever. I didn’t learn I had the virus until I tested positive my first day in Nebraska. My test in Japan had come out positive, which I didn’t learn about until many days after I arrived in Omaha.
Other readers have suggested my writing is being censored. That is not true. Jeri and I have done numerous live interviews. My laptop is hooked up to the internet. My wife is the only one censoring my writing and that’s a good thing. I’d be in even deeper do-do with her if some of my “outtakes” made it to print.
My medical staff is very protective of our privacy. We are in the epicenter of what’s now top international news. Reporters, posing on the phone as “our doctors” are calling trying to get a story.
The other day, I took a picture of my nurse in her hazmat outfit. I had asked permission. I was careful to shoot from an angle that didn’t reveal her face. That photo was published on our website. The next day, I was asked by CDC officials not to film or take photos of any of their staff. I have since lived up to their request. I understand they deserve their privacy as well.
Today I heard a report that many Christmas toys may be limited since so many are manufactured in China. Mattel should develop hazmat suits for Barbie and Ken. I know they would be the rage this coming holiday season.
I also heard talk that the Diamond Princess is scheduled to go back into service on April 29 for the start of Japan’s Golden Week celebrations. I had never heard of that holiday.
Apparently, the celebration consists of four very major Japanese holidays hitting the same week. It would be like Christmas, Easter, the Fourth of July and Ground Hogs Day colliding during the same week here in the States.
I am walking over 7,000 steps a day. It’s seven steps to the wall in my room. I am now pacing the same circle 1,000 times.
My doctor informed me a new CDC protocol will require me to test negative of the novel corona virus, COVID-19, three days in a row, up from two. Jeri, who doesn’t have the virus, will need to have two negative tests, 24 hours apart, before she will be released. I may now NOT get out of here until after the Iowa caucus is finalized.
I continue to stay optimistic. I am taking my predicament one day at a time. I’m thankful I am receiving the best care in the world. My body is providing valuable information to the medical team, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the NIH (National Institutes of Health) as they try to learn more about the virus.
As I prepare for bed, I smile at my birthday balloon protecting my growing stash of straws. I’m hopeful my balloon and I will “escape” the first week in March.
Read All Of Carl’s Journals Here: Carl Goldman Coronavirus Journals
Part 3: Santa Clarita Residents Share First-Hand Experience Of Coronavirus Quarantine On Diamond Princess
Part 4: Trapped In The Coronavirus Quarantine Aboard The Diamond Princess: Part Four
Part 5: Santa Clarita Residents Share Emotions As They Prepare To Leave Coronavirus
Part 7: Santa Clarita Resident Diagnosed With Coronavirus Sets Record Straight: Part 7
Part 8: Santa Clarita Resident Battles Coronavirus After Diamond Princess Cruise: Part 8
Part 9: Santa Clarita Resident Continues To Recover From Coronavirus Diagnosis: Part 9
Part 10: Living With Coronavirus: Santa Clarita Resident Continues To Share Story — Part 10
Part 12: Coronavirus Quarantine Continues As Santa Clarita Resident Recovers From COVID-19: Part 12
Part 14: Third Member Of The ‘Four Amigos’ Tests Positive For Coronavirus: Part 14
Part 15: Santa Clarita COVID-19 Patient Continues Recovery In Nebraska After Contracting Coronavirus: Part 15
Part 16: Carl Continues To Test Positive For Coronavirus, Jeri Still Negative: Part 16
Part 17: Carl Still Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Jeri Prepares To Return Home: Part 17
Part 18: Jeri Cleared From Quarantine, Carl Continues Coronavirus Recovery: Part 18
Part 19: Jeri Back Home, Carl Continues Coronavirus COVID-19 Recovery In Nebraska: Part 19
Part 20: Coronavirus COVID-19 Patient Carl Goldman Continues Path To Recovery: Part 20
Read All Of Carl’s Journals Here: Carl Goldman Coronavirus Journals
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The ignorant people out there who are spreading vicious rumors will get theirs! It is truly a shame they are so cruel and insensitive!
Keep up the positive thoughts! You will overcome this!
Carl you’ve been amazing, hard to say this since your in a horrible situation but I’m enjoying your light humor during your recovery. Wishing you a belated Happy Birthday. Hope you and Jeri will be home soon healthy, happy and safe back here in SCV. ?
This is great news! I’m so proud of you and your amazing attitude. We are grateful you are in such good hands in Omaha. I hope you write a book or screenplay about this!! You are an inspiration!!!
Very glad to hear you are feeling well. You are probably in the best place you could be for care. The straws are hilarious. Many prayers for continued recovery and the ability for you and Jeri to go home soon.
Carl, I have an idea… What if you used your straw collection to build a treadmill on the floor of your room. Stack them next to the window and let them roll under your feet as you gaze out on that spectacular view you have. It might get you to 10,000 a day! Just a thought. We’re thinking a lot about you and Jeri and looking forward to you both being 100% and returning home soon.
Sending warm hugs and many prayers for you all to come home happy and healthy. Keep your positivity and joy even during this season.
You are awesome. Thank you for sharing your journey in a humorous, j hi onset and poignant manner.
As an Omaha native and local, I feel so proud that our hospital is front and center in this international news, and that they are able to help you – and many others – with both knowledge and their kindness. Now you know what “Midwest nice” means!
It’s also kind of a strange feeling to realize you are literally less than a mile from where my family lives. We go about our busy lives without even thinking or knowing about the critical care being given to people just down the road from us. Of course I see the virus being talked about on the news, but your journaling of the experience has really hit home!
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Hang in there. Just to clarify, although you did not know you were positive until you were in Nebraska, the Japanese, CDC, and Dept. of State did know. That’s why the bus ride to the airport took 6 hours. It is good to have 3 negative checks, since in some cases, the incubation period seems to be longer than 14 days, all the time while being asymptomatic, and testing negative. Another study is showing 18% recurrence after testing negative. Another scary thing is the folks who tested negative in Japan, and quarantined in Lackland (not sure about the Travis folks), is that out of 90 volunteers (50%) to be tested a week out from their quarantine release, 5 of that group tested positive, though asymptomatic. It would be very reassuring if all would volunteer to be retested again before quarantine release, even if asymptomatic, and twice per day temps are OK, or if quarantine period were moved to 21 days.
I have found Carl’s reports so very informative. There is no way anyone of us can fathom what this has been like for both he and Jeri. So sorry for any negative responses from people to them. Praying they can both return home to SC and a “normal” life soon.. (although their lives will never be the same.)
Thank you for all your communications MontanaRanchLLC@aol.com. Goldman. We hope to see you home and back in Santa Clarita with us all SOON !
Happy belated birthday ???!!!!
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your continued updates. You are so funny and have a great sense of humor in the worst of times. I moved out of the SCV years ago but used to listen to KHTS every day. I am glad you are all doing well considering the situation. I wish you well every day, and can’t wait for you to your beloved Santa Clarita Valley as soon as possible. God’s Speed.
Hi,
I’m very happy for your recovery and to be reading of a recovery. I wanted to post this link here for yourself but more importantly the staff where you are staying. Apropos your race to get home. It looks like patients eventually retest positive even after 2 negative tests. Please share this w experts so they can research its veracity and contact similar institutions in Japan to share notes.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200226/p2g/00m/0in/081000c
Thoughts and prayers for Jeri’s and your release from your quarantine soon. Please let Karena and I know if we can send you anything! John
Hi Carl from the UK ??
Been following your story from the beginning.
I’m not reading anything else from the news be it fake or real. just want to know how you are doing and that there is hope that this thing is not a death sentence as the media are making it out to be. You continue to bring happiness to my day knowing that you are recovering. Much Love
Lisa Alesai
You should name your balloon Wilson! ?
You are truly amazing. With all that is going on with you and your wife you have an amazing attitude. You are also very funny and I smile a lot at reading your updates. I left Santa Clarita and CA 13.5 yrs ago. I am still amused at what I’m not missing in CA. Stupidity runs rampant.
Praying for you and your wife and your friends that you get home soon. Please leave the straws in Nebraska! I’d hate to read about your arrest fresh off the plane at LAX for illegal transport of straws over state lines.
Love you Carl ! Keep bringing us your brand of humor and very sorry to hear about Mark .
I know that this could be crushing in your situation, but I’m guessing they won’t let you remove the straws from isolation. That would be a breach of infectious disease control.
Thanks so much for providing this update. I pray that you’ll all test negative soon and be released sooner rather than later.
Good article on the Captain Gennaro Arma of your cruise. You did a good job highlight him during one of your reports.
Also, a WSJ article on Captain and crew.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/captain-gennaro-arma-courageous-keeps-spirits-alive-on-coronavirus-cruise-2182871
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-cruise-captain-and-crew-on-the-lockdown-the-rulebook-was-thrown-out-11582716677
Thank you so much for writing- I am thoroughly enjoying your commentary- wishes for 3 negative tests in a row.
Carl, I saw your blog for the first time a bit ago (part 8), and immediately went back to part 1 to read from the beginning. Thank you for sharing the story, and for telling it so well. Good writing is a lost art.
I live in D.C. (Go Nats!), so am refreshed by your personal, factual take on the situation.
Continued good thoughts for you, Jerri, Jeri, and Mark. Hope you all make it home safely and in full health.
P.S. I am not accountable for what happens (and doesn’t) in this city.
I am petrified of getting (or my family getting) Coronavirus. It doesn’t sound that miserable the way you describe it so this takes away some of the mystique and anxiety for me. I read about other patients “knocking on death’s door” and “tremendous pain”- have you experienced any of that?
Thank you for your updates. I live just north of Santa Clarita Valley off the 14 fwy, so we are definitely neighbors. You and your wife are in my prayers as well as the other passengers. Your sense of humor and positive attitude are inspiring. If only those things were contagious, right?
Just heard about Jeri’s tooth, I hope she is not in pain. Your blog is probably the most honest information out there.
Your humor is also recovering. That is a good thing. Our Nursing &Allied Health NP students continue to monitor the covid-19 outbreaks around the world.it has spread quite profusely in South Korea, Italy and Iran. .Monarchy, democracy or socialists countries- Covid does not descriminate according the social class, age or anything else. We pray you continue to improve.
Actually Colorado repealed that last many years ago – we can purchase beer 7 days a week 🙂 cheers and heal quick!
Carl, u & Jeri are definitely troopers. I found your posts at the 3rd one. I keep up daily. You seem to provide the calmness & humor we need about this – much more insightful than tv news.
Maybe you should write a book!!!!
Don’t know you 2, but I’m a long time resident of SCV.
I wish all 4 of you the best of health, I’m rooting for Jeri to win the “Great Quarantine Race”. But hope you all get to be home soon.
Dear Carl, You and Geri are truly an inspiration. I am sorry you both had to experience what you are going thru. You have been so upbeat and it helps us, on the outside. I am glad you are getting such good care and hope you will soon get the 3 negative tests. God speed for a quick recovery. You are all in our best thoughts and prayers….
I was actually upset that I had missed Part 13 and went straight to Part 14. It’s like reading a book backwards.
Truly, Carl, my heart breaks for all of you. I love to see you accept things as they are in a humorous fashion but I still wish you all were home.
Just don’t name the balloon ?