code: def make_rpc_call(self, rpc_command):
          
          # ~~~ hack: ~~~
          if not self.is_alive():
              self.close()  # force close for safety
              self.open()  # reopen
          # ~~~ end hack ~~~
          result = self._execute_rpc(rpc_command)
          return ET.tostring(result)
docs: Allow a user to query a device directly using XML-requests.
  
          :param rpc_command: (str) rpc command such as:
                                    <Get><Operational><LLDP><NodeTable></NodeTable></LLDP></Operational></Get>