Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #3

[Izzylizzy]

Thinking about BA and a doctor maybe she did call/see one and hantavirus didn't even enter the doctor's mind?

• Early symptoms of HPS in people resemble many other respiratory illnesses, making HPS difficult to diagnose at illness onset.
• Healthcare providers should test a person for hantavirus if they have HPS-compatible symptoms and have had contact with rodents.'

Clinician Brief: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Clinical information about HPS, a severe disease that affects the lungs.

www.cdc.gov

 

[ClearAhead]

Good points.
I was thinking along the lines of a possible human contact the couple had on the 11th in their home.

No mention of anyone known to have been in their home, on or after the 11th.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Questions:
Did her email on 2/11 with massage therapist mention feeling under the weather?
What did she get at CVS pharmacy?
She could have been exposed - as others said - maybe getting the crate from a shed where the mice were - and then started feeling sick.
They said she was wearing a mask while running her errands on 2/11 so could have had a cough or other symptoms.
If she felt lousy, could have stayed off of her phone or computer but it seems this hantavirus could have knocked her out given the few days of potential exposure - all speculation of course.
Hard to think of poor Gene not knowing what had happened? Did he feed the dogs? Did he eat some food? They said he wasn't dehydrated so must have had some capacity.
Makes me so sad,

I keep thinking a similar thought as you..."something knocked her out"--figuratively but...
Even if she was the sole caregiver all this time, she would still be SO extremely concerned about Gene. If she was getting sicker and sicker gradually---I just think she would have been frantic to get care in there for him.

I clearly no nothing about this disease, but something just must have stopped her completely .

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Thanks. That makes more sense. I've never lived in Santa Fe but I used to go frequently when my bf was living there (taking care of his elderly parents). I'd be surprised if the farmers market was open in February. Is this DeVargas? Betsy's shop was there.

The Sprouts is way out on Zafarano. Interesting she’d go there vs Whole Foods, The Co-op, or Natural Grocers, just because it’s on the opposite side of town from their home. But everyone has their favorite, and the others may have been too public for her taste.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

For BA to go to the Farmers Market, the Drug Store and a Pet Food Store on the 11th before going home on the evening of the 11th, doesn't really fit for someone that must have been feeling sickened from the Hantavirus and passing likely within the next 12 hours.

She arrived at the subdivision gate at 5:15 PM, I would think she must have been feeling terrible at this time. I can see her going to the Drug Store to get medicine to help with the symptoms of the virus and maybe getting food for her beloved dogs if they were out of food and known it may be some time before she would feel well enough to go out again, but the Farmers Market????? A Farmers Market just doesn't seem to be a likely place for someone to go in the condition she must have been in if she was to pass so soon afterwards.

JMO

I would think that the drug store was for the dog, since she was just picking him up from the vet.

 

[NuttMegg]

Sometimes even if you don’t feel well and need to get things done, you push yourself through.

Especially if it's just the "flu". When I finally got covid in 2022 it was more like a head cold with pressure. It could have absolutely surprised her when it quickly affected her lungs.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

My wife has Altz. and I’m her caregiver. The burden is so hard, like you said. Plus, I’m 85 and on oxygen for a fatal lung disease.

oh my goodness, my friend. Heartful thoughts and care to you.

And I bet you don't have 80 million dollars either.....

 

[priyaya]

Betsy just did not have to do all this. I do wonder why?

I think she was trying to protect his reputation and dignity in the end
we all saw the paparazzi photos of him. She was probably worried a caregiver or really anyone outside would tell the press that he had gotten to be so bad. Thats paranoia but does seem he went down hill fast

 

[ClearAhead]

I keep thinking a similar thought as you..."something knocked her out"--figuratively but...
Even if she was the sole caregiver all this time, she would still be SO extremely concerned about Gene. If she was getting sicker and sicker gradually---I just think she would have been frantic to get care in there for him.

I clearly no nothing about this disease, but something just must have stopped her completely .

For older people often it’s a misguided belief of ‘I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning’. Especially as GH wouldn’t have been able to say to her “Let’s take you to see a doctor NOW!”

 

[priyaya]

I would think that the drug store was for the dog, since she was just picking him up from the vet.

vet was on the 9th, not the 11th
and typically vet meds cant be picked up at a pharmacy or drugstore

 

[Cindizzi]

 

[NuttMegg]

ME said the pacemaker showed atrial fibrillation on the 18th, what did she say it showed on the 17th?

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

The CDC (God Bless it) says hantavirus "usually starts to show 1 to 8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent.” And then "Four to 10 days after the initial phase of illness, the late symptoms of HPS [Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome] appear.” This would mean Betsy would have been infected in January. So she would have been carrying and dealing with symptoms for a while. Poor woman. So concerned about Gene and possibly dismissing her own illness...

 

[priyaya]

ME said the pacemaker showed atrial fibrillation on the 18th, what did she say it showed on the 17th?

it had reported or had some kind of activity on that day from their initial scan
but i guess further scans at autopsy showed the a fib on 18th
that's why i think he may have forgotten to get take his meds which led to the issue

 

[formerreddingrunner]

Was anything mentioned about when BA went to the vets, farmer's market and store that there was someone at the house watching over Gene?
IMO:
I can't see leaving a person with Alzheimers and/or advanced Alzheimers alone.

I know, right? I worked as a caregiver for Alzheimer's (in-home care) patients - I *never* felt comfortable leaving them. and IIRC correctly, I never did.

however, family members were like, 'Hey, if you want to take a break, leave for an hour or two." Like, just leave the patient unattended with advanced Alzheimer's. NOT ON MY WATCH.

 

[SophieRose]

Someone earlier in the thread brought up hantavirus. I thought that was ridiculous-- and since I live in NM, I'm going to learn all I can.

WOW.
Basically you need to clean up all droppings etc with goves and keep your outside spaces sealed up so they cant get in.
I live in NYC and dealing with pests is a nightmare, but ours dont have hanta virus

An article from 1993 when a young researcher died at Mammoth CA from the virus. This was the first time I had heard of Hantavirus. It was also the same year there was a large breakout in Four Corners. This is how they said to handle it back in 1993.

CALIFORNIA ALBUM : Among Vacationers, Anxiety Is Catching : Mammoth Lakes has had its share of misfortunes. Now, tourists and residents are worried about deadly hantavirus.

The buzz around the visitors bureau Wednesday was a little off-key, a bit insistent.

www.latimes.com

In addition to staying away from rodents, health officials suggest that mouse excrement found in campsites or homes not be swept up or vacuumed. Instead, contaminated areas and dead animals should be soaked in disinfectant, and handlers should wear rubber gloves. Dead animals should then be double-bagged in plastic and buried.

 

[NuttMegg]

An article from 1993 when a young researcher died at Mammoth CA from the virus. This was the first time I had heard of Hantavirus. It was also the same year there was a large breakout in Four Corners. This is how they said to handle it back in 1993.

CALIFORNIA ALBUM : Among Vacationers, Anxiety Is Catching : Mammoth Lakes has had its share of misfortunes. Now, tourists and residents are worried about deadly hantavirus.

The buzz around the visitors bureau Wednesday was a little off-key, a bit insistent.

www.latimes.com

In addition to staying away from rodents, health officials suggest that mouse excrement found in campsites or homes not be swept up or vacuumed. Instead, contaminated areas and dead animals should be soaked in disinfectant, and handlers should wear rubber gloves. Dead animals should then be double-bagged in plastic and buried.

That surprised me, advice against vacuuming. Maybe BA had a shop vac out where they kept dog food and basically poisoned herself. I don't know how many times I shop vacced the out buildings. But luckily no deer mice here.

 

[priyaya]

The CDC (God Bless it) says hantavirus "usually starts to show 1 to 8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent.” And then "Four to 10 days after the initial phase of illness, the late symptoms of HPS [Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome] appear.” This would mean Betsy would have been infected in January. So she would have been carrying and dealing with symptoms for a while. Poor woman. So concerned about Gene and possibly dismissing her own illness...

my friend married to a much older man *shes in her 40s, he's in his 80s* and she just had covid. They live rurally like 30 min from the closest gas station. her husband is only at mild brain foggyness but no where close to Alzheimers. When she had covid last week (she got it from caring for him) she told me how it was a huge wake up call. She ended up calling her mother who she hadn't spoken to in years to come help out because she was the only one close enough.
This whole story has really grasped me because this has been my biggest fear with them.

 

[priyaya]

That surprised me, advice against vacuuming. Maybe BA had a shop vac out where they kept dog food and basically poisoned herself. I don't know how many times I shop vacced the out buildings. But luckily no deer mice here.

vacuuming is bad because the exhaust can spew out particulates. You could do it with special filters but most household vacuums dont have that and need to blow out what they suck up

 

[NuttMegg]

vacuuming is bad because the exhaust can spew out particulates. You could do it with special filters but most household vacuums dont have that and need to blow out what they suck up

I just never thought about it.