[@SleepingSilence] Thank you. I appreciate that. 

And yeah, crippling illness! Mine was a horrible strain of some kind of flu that was going around, which evolved into some sort of bronchitis (my doctor was kind of a huge quack and pretty much refused to test or really even examine me, and wouldn't give me any kind of diagnosis. I've switched doctors since then). I was sick for a bit over two weeks, during which time I could barely breathe (-15 Celsius weather is just what sick lungs need, right?) couldn't bring myself to eat more than like, some crackers in a day, and endured this wonderful full-body pain and chest constriction the entire time. Did I mention nighttime nausea? That was great. 

 I only recently got rid of the cough via steroid inhaler (fun side effects, by the way. Day-long hitters are just the best) meaning that my lungs are finally clear and I can actually climb the stairs without panting!

Yeah, maybe a sturdier person might have held up a bit better to whatever that was, but I'm pretty tiny, so it was unexpectedly harsh on me. 

Sorry about what happpened to you and your sister. I hope you're both doing well now!