Jasper is,
as I've mentioned, sick: respiratory difficulties of some sort or another that haven't yet been fully determined. What we do know, or think that we know: it's not swine flu. Which is a relief. Of sorts.
We can't really rest easy - indeed, we're pretty likely to be
resting entirely uneasily - until Jasper is well again. Because he's ill, he can't get the vaccine. Because he's ill, he's more vulnerable than he'd be otherwise to the virus. Because it's his respiratory system that's vulnerable, any viral attack could be very, very dangerous to him. Too dangerous.
Yesterday,
a healthy young boy in our city died of swine flu. He was diagnosed with regular flu last week after falling ill, felt improved enough to play hockey on Saturday, and then fell ill again that evening. His parents took him to a clinic on Sunday, where they were told it would pass. Evan Frustaglio went bed on Sunday evening, and stopped breathing, and when his parents went to wake him, he was gone.
Just like that. GONE.
I am not exaggerating when I say that this news makes me want to a) keep Jasper - keep Jasper and Emilia - indoors for the rest of flu season, and b) have Jasper sleep right beside me so that I can lay awake and monitor his breathing until I am certain - as certain as I can be - that the greatest risk has passed. Or until I go mad from sleep-deprivation. Whichever comes first.
The first option is not a viable option. The second, well... I'd like to say that I'm sort of kidding, but I'm not. But as much effort I'll put into that second option, it's not the answer. I don't know what the answer is. Live with my worry, I guess.
And this: implore you all to please, please vaccinate your children if you can. Stay home if you fall ill. Wash your hands.
Do whatever you can to stop this from spreading. Containment only works if we all do it. Don't put any children at risk.
Please.
All four of my kids got it, two developed pneumonia, and one is still not well completely. We won't be getting the vaccine since our ped still doesn't even have it yet and we've all had it already. They ran out of the regular shot, as well, and we are on the waiting list for it. Two of my kids are high risk, so we treat all 4 as high risk. When my oldest, now 10, was 3 months, she got RSV, and we stayed up for 3 days staring at her, sleeping in shifts, to make sure we'd know if she stopped breathing. This go around with H1N1, all four have spent time in my bed so we could do the same thing. Do what you need to do for both Jasper and you to get through this.
Yes. yes. yes.
Please vaccinate, help protect the weaker ones in our communities.
Vaccinate. One of my sons has autism--he's in a high risk group as a result of the neurological aspect of the disorder. He will be vaccinated, just like the other two. Vaccines didn't cause his autism--we did all the "right" stuff, but this one might save his life.
Vaccinate.
leslie
I'm 38 weeks pregnant, have asthma and am allergic to eggs so I can't get the vaccine and this worries me. My husband is planning on getting it which helps but part of me wants to hibernate for the next couple of months to protect not just myself but more importantly my child.
Just a thought as I also have a daughter with severe asthma. Is the cat making him sick?
Just something that may be worth looking into.
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