#1 Prayer
#2 Immunizations
#3 Cleanliness
But there may be some reading this that believe that immunizations do more harm than good. Hey, it's your life and your children. I'm not a Doctor, nor am I paid by any pharmaceutical company.
All myths aside, my research has shown me immunizations are our best defense.The Doctors and Nurses I've talked with agree to the point of volentarily being immunized themselves.
Can you imagine what it would be like if you were to lose a child or loved one to a preventable disease or virus?
The 2011-2012 seasonal influenza vaccine includes three strains; an influenza B virus, an influenza A (H1N1) virus and an influenza A (H3N2) virus. (These are the three virus subtypes that are circulating most commonly among people today.)
This vaccination will cost you $25 at the Health Department. Not getting this simple shot and running into complications associated with any strain of influenza can land you or your child in the hospital for weeks, possibly months fighting for life. You may also find yourself with a bill totalling over $1.2 million. This sum was not averaged or sought as a scare tactic, this is fact. I know this because this was our bill.
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__________________________________________________________________________How does a parent find hope and sanity when the Dr. comes to them and says "there is nothing more we can do for your child, we've done all we can and we are out of options." __________________________________________________________________________
How does a parent say goodbye to their ten year old son and still mange to eat, shower and sleep? __________________________________________________________________________
We will all eventually find ourselves in the darkest chapter of our lives. And until you enter into this part of your life, there will be a question that will remain unanswered. When all amenities and conveniences have dissipated and you find your strongest support system deteriorating in the same manner as you....
Where will you turn to find strength to endure?
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This book details a true story of how a family finds their world upside down within a matter of hours and how they emerge stronger and closer than ever imagined, dreamt or prayed for.
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This book started as nothing more than a journal to clear my head of the trauma and to instigate a forward motion in my life.
Written from a fathers heart.
Hugh Estlinbaum
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Flu facts found on Iansrainbow.org
During the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 over 20 million people died, including 500,000 in the United States alone. On average as many as 36,000 Americans die each year from influenza more commonly known as the flu. In 2003 the number rose to over 67,000. Each year another 150,000 are hospitalized. Unfortunately many of them are our children. Many people who get influenza can develop pneumonia. The combination of influenza and pneumonia is in fact the seventh leading cause of death among Americans and the sixth leading cause of death in our children under the age of 13.
So remember it may not be JUST the flu!
Follow your instincts about your children. No one knows your children better than you do.
One thing I would like to add to the following. Most flu like symptoms can be treat at home with a hot tottie and a paper bag. But not all instances of the flu can be treat in this fashion. To be laid out for a few days is one thing, but when breathing problems occur with the flu...It's time for some professional intervention.
To all you parents out there, we know when our kids get sick, then get better, their immune system is stronger than before. But I want you to know the speed at which the flu virus can escalate. My son, Tony, had his first collapsed lung within 24 hours of showing any symptoms. He was active and healthy. He was never sick enough, in all of his 10 years, to need medical attention. This can happen to anyone.
My hopes are, with the coming flu season, is that all parents will have their "A" game out. Be on your toes and pay attention to the details.
And most of all, stay informed.
From the CDC
Take time to get a flu vaccine.
- CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
- While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.
- The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic.
- Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the 2011-2012 vaccines are available.
- Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
- People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
- Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
- Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu–like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
- If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness.
- Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and are not available over-the-counter.
- Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
- It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early (within the first 2 days of symptoms) to treat people who are very sick (such as those who are hospitalized) or people who are sick with flu symptoms and who are at increased risk of severe flu illness, such as pregnant women, young children, people 65 and older and people with certain chronic health conditions.
- Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
We washed our hands continually.
We covered our cough profusely.
We stayed away when we felt Ill.
We watched in horror as
the H1N1 continued to claim lives,
close and abroad.
We did this while in the
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
wondering if our ten year old son
would become a statistic of the pandemic.
Surrounded by life saving equipment
and gallons of medications,
darkness loomed over our hopes of having a
Miracle Child.
