E AST O REGONIAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022
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Being sick with COVID-19 is no joke
ANNIE
FOWLER
FOWLER’S FOCUS
I
‘m back!
You may have noticed I was missing
from the sports page, or maybe not, but
it’s certainly good to be back in front of my
computer.
I’d like to say I was on a great African
safari, or soaking up the sun in Florida, but I
have been battling COVID-19 and pneumo-
nia since the middle of January.
Where I caught this, who knows. I don’t
go anywhere or see many people. One of
life’s little mysteries.
I texted the area coaches to let them
know I would be gone for a while, but a lot
of my friends don’t even know that I spent
5-1/2 days in the hospital in isolation, let
alone that I was sick.
In hindsight, I probably should have gone
to the doctor when I fi rst started feeling
sick on Jan. 11. I am a stubborn old gal, so
it wasn’t until Jan. 19 that my hubby, Scott,
took me to the emergency department.
That’s when all the bad news came.
My oxygen level was at 70, which I
found out is super duper bad. So off to the
hospital in an ambulance I went. It was my
fi rst ambulance ride. It was bumpy and cold.
I do not recommend this mode of travel.
I spent the fi rst 2-1/2 days fl at on my
back, on 100% oxygen. It was a treat to get
out of bed and sit in a chair with my feet up
the rest of my stay. Each day that my oxygen
levels got better, my doctor would give me a
high-fi ve. On my fi nal day, he congratulated
me on beating COVID-19 and said he did
not want to see me again. He was a fun guy.
The interesting part of this hospital stay
was that my doctor told me I might be there
with them even if I had been vaccinated. He
told me they have seen several vaccinated
people come through with COVID-19.
With the blessing of my regular doctor,
I have been putting off the vaccine while
dealing with a circulation issue in my right
leg. The worry of blood clots is the main
issue.
I still have bruises on my tummy where
they gave me countless doses of heparin and
other things to keep me alive. The key word
here is “alive.”
The night Scott took me to the ER, I
went in to change out of my jammies and
into clothes. I laid down on the bed because
I had zero energy. A few days later, he told
me he thought he had lost me that night. I
was ash gray and lifeless. After 32 years,
you aren’t getting rid of me that easily.
The fi rst week home from the hospital
was spent avoiding the rest of the world so
my poor lungs could heal and not pick up
another evil virus.
I still have a wicked cough that some-
times can be controlled with my inhaler, and
sometimes not. I have gone on small excur-
sions to get my lungs working. These wear
me out, but there’s always time for a nap.
While I was battling to catch my breath,
longtime Riverside Athletic Director
and boys and girls basketball coach Clair
Costello was in the same boat I was, and it
wasn’t a luxury yacht.
Costello said he knew he was sick on
Jan. 9. By Jan. 16, he was on a plane to Hill-
sboro because no local hospital had space
for him.
His oxygen levels were down to 74, and
his asthma made it even worse.
“I spent eight days in the ICU and three
days in a regular room,” he said. “The fi rst
three days, they didn’t know if I would
make it or not. I told them no ventilator. I
have had the fl u, but nothing like this. It was
no fun. I had the shots, but it didn’t make a
diff erence.”
Costello, 65, was released from the
hospital Jan. 27 and was in quarantine until
Jan. 30. He returned to the sidelines Feb. 1
at Stanfi eld, with an extra team member in
tow — an oxygen tank.
“I’m on oxygen for another two weeks,”
he said. “I’m having some fun with that. I
can’t go 20 minutes without the oxygen.”
Like my hubby, Costello’s wife, Cheryl,
and daughters, Carly and Caitlin, spent days
worrying before he recovered enough to
return home.
I can laugh about this experience now,
but this COVID-19 thing is no joke.
———
Annie Fowler is the sports reporter for
the East Oregonian and in her career has
covered high school sports, rodeo and
Tri-City Americans hockey.
FACEBOOK.COM/EOSPORTS
A9
MAKING HISTORY
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
P
UNE, India — An
Eastern Oregon
University soccer
player recently
helped the Philippines
women’s national soccer team
make history.
Kiara Fontanilla, a goal-
keeper for the Mountain-
eers, played a part in the
team’s magical run at the
AFC Women’s Asian Cup. A
dramatic victory in penalty
kicks over Chinese Taipei
on Jan. 30 sealed the Philip-
pines’ spot in the 2023 FIFA
Women’s World Cup, mark-
ing the fi rst time the country
ever qualifi ed for the tourna-
ment.
The Philippines’ run
started in the group stage,
with the team looking to earn
enough points to make the
knockout stages. The team
started with a narrow 1-0
victory over Thailand on Jan.
21 to secure three points —
forward Chandler McDaniel
scored the game-winning goal
in the 81st minute.
In the team’s second
matchup, Fontanilla earned
her first career start at the
international level against
one of the toughest teams in
the tournament. Fontanilla
started in net against Austra-
lia, ranked No. 11 in the FIFA
women’s soccer rankings.
Up against one of the stron-
gest teams in the tournament,
Fontanilla and the Philippines
held Australia scoreless in the
fi rst half. Australia picked up
the pace in the second half
and won 4-0 after controlling
Eastern Oregon University Athletics/Contributed Photo, File
Kiara Fontanilla readies to clear the ball in front of the East-
ern Oregon University goal during a match in the 2021 spring
season. Fontanilla helped the Philippines earn a spot in the
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking the fi rst time the
country has ever qualifi ed for the tournament.
possession for 75% of the
match.
A 6-0 win over Indone-
sia in the Philippines’ third
match of the AFC group stage
ensured the team’s spot in the
knockout rounds.
Matched up against
Chinese Taipei, the Philip-
pines had their hands full in
a low-scoring match. Both
teams went back and forth
with chances, but played out
a scoreless fi rst half. Quinley
Quezada scored the opening
goal in the 49th minute off a
volley, giving Philippines a
1-0 lead. However, Chinese
Taipei’s Zhuo Li-ping scored
an equalizer off an incredible
long shot from outside the box
in the 82nd minute.
After 30 minutes of score-
less extra time, the Philip-
pines’ fate would come down
to a series of penalty kicks.
Both teams converted
three out of their first five
attempts, leaving the game
up for grabs. Ping shot the
sixth penalty for Chinese
Taipei, but her shot was
saved by goalkeeper Olivia
Davies McDaniel. With the
game on the line, the Philip-
pines’ Sarina Bolden drilled
a shot into the left side of the
net to send the team through
to the semifi nals and clinch
the country’s first World
Cup appearance. Players and
coaches alike embraced on
the fi eld as history was made.
The Philippines went on to
lose 2-0 to No. 19 South Korea
in the semifi nals, ending the
team’s hopes of winning
the AFC Women’s Asian
Cup. Nonetheless, the team
achieved its ultimate goal of
earning a spot in the FIFA
Women’s World Cup.
The Philippines are one of
six teams currently eligible
for the World Cup, with other
continents still in the quali-
fying stages. The 2023 FIFA
Women’s World Cup is set to
take place across Australia
and New Zealand, with group
stages scheduled to begin in
late July 2023.
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EAST OREGONIAN • HERMISTON HERALD • BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE • WALLOWA COUNTY CHIEFTAIN
502 Real Estate
504 Homes for Sale
504 Homes for Sale
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How Much is your Home Worth?
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John J. Howard & Assoc.
(541) 377-9470
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John J. Howard & Assoc.
(541) 377-9470
$799,000
3bed, 1bath custom built log
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969-6378c. #21298074
Coldwell Banker
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541-276-0021
There are limited homes
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sell your home.
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REALTY & TRAVEL
305 SW Court Ave., Pendleton
How Much is your Home Worth?
Call Matt Vogler, The Weekend
and After Hours Agent, for a free
Market Analysis. 541.377.9470.
More Listings needed to meet
current buyer demand!
Matt Vogler
John J. Howard & Assoc.
(541) 377-9470
BUY IT! SELL IT!
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Call for your classified ad today! 800-962-2819
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REALTY & TRAVEL
305 SW Court Ave., Pendleton
Current MLS listings include
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John J. Howard & Assoc.
541.377.9470
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305 SW Court Ave., Pendleton
$299,900 Pilot Rock
960 sf(m/l) 2bay shop, w/half-
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Coldwell Banker
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541-276-0021
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4 ACRES! 4bedroom, 3bath,
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Coldwell Banker
Farley Company
541-276-0021
The Pendleton Branch
of D.A. Davidson & Co.
Is looking for a dynamic
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Duties include wire opera-
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For a full job description and
to submit your resume online,
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Ideal candidate must have expe-
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Oregon.
$259,000
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Coldwell Banker
Farley Company
541-276-0021
JM Eagle of Umatilla, Or.
The world’s largest plastic
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CLASS A CDL
TRUCK DRIVER
$339,900
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6842c. #2108852
Coldwell Banker
Farley Company
541-276-0021
SELL IT- in the Classifieds!
651 Help Wanted
EASTOREGONREALESTATE.COM
for our fast paced shipping
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97882 or send resume to:
branditurner@jmeagle.com