SAFE: And looking back

I am always thinking of ways to keep in touch with old friends and family from afar, so I am using this letter to the editor to more widely let it be known I am fine and am not affected yet by COVID-19. Because of my interest in history, I have been thinking about other pandemics such as typhoid fever and polio and am encouraged by the fact that these diseases are no longer a threat.

My grandfather, I believe, contracted typhoid fever from drinking contaminated water in the Wisconsin Dells. And I remember how relieved I was during the polio epidemic to finally be able to take the polio vaccine.

We have come a long way with penicillin and other miracle drugs, and I want to put in a plug for the advances in regenerative medicine now on the horizon, specifically stem cell therapy that I underwent this past year. One of its advantages is that it only took a half day and I could avoid a prolonged hospital stay. With the fear of contamination and spread of viruses, that was significant for me. I miss seeing you all but know it is for the best.

JOANN CRECELIUS JONES

Coeur d’Alene

Editor’s note: Joann is Curator Emerita, Latah County Historical Society and originator of the former Nearby History column, Moscow-Pullman Daily News.