What is the upside of a nasty germ totally hi-jacking your body? Knocks you down a few pegs. You get back to basics. Can I breathe? Can I walk? Can I eat? How long can I stay conscious today? How come everything seems underwater?
Reminds you how fragile "health" can be. You wonder if this sickness is some primitive punishment for cellular blood-acts never named, or an ancient curse for some secret transgression.
And then, when you are on the mend, let's assume you are on the mend, it's kind of like slowly re-surfacing to a new reality.
What's important? What tastes good? Is this a second chance?
The germ is a messenger and a message. Message received. What now?