Opinion: Change of perspective: How murine typhus has changed Op-Ed columnist Meghan Daum

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Last month, Op-Ed columnist Meghan Daum shared a personal story of contracting the very rare murine typhus from a flea on her dog. What started out as flu-like symptoms turned into a near-death experience. In her first column, A medical odyssey, she recounted the nine nightmarish days she spent in the hospital as doctors tried to figure out what was wrong. The following week she wrote Back from the brink, in which she admitted to feeling a little angry about the experience. ‘For all of our controlling impulses,’ she wrote, ‘one flea can upend life as we know it.’

Daum also shared her story on the ‘Madeline Brand Show,’ which aired Wednesday morning on KPCC. Joining her to round out the series of events -- and terrifying perspective from the other side -- was her husband, Alan Zarembo, a reporter at The Times who … wait for it … often covers the medical beat. Click here to listen to the radio program. In addition to the medical details, the meaning of this experience also starts to take shape as they talk. Their renewed perspective on life strikes a nice note as we head into the season of resolutions.

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-- Alexandra Le Tellier