Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Curval on March 31, 2003, 06:20:37 PM
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Wouldn't you know it...
We are in the middle of a worldwide outbreak of a killer pneumonia and my youngest son comes down with full blown pneumonia on Sunday.
The story:
Saturday:
8.00am. Sam is running after his brother and slips. He falls flat on his face and hits his head.
10.30am. He starts showing signs of a fever.
11.00am. Fever is really high, red cheeks and he is sweating. Large dose of liquiprin (fever reducer). I wonder out loud if he might have a consussion from his earlier fall.
12.00pm. Fever returns after going away quickly the first time. The wife and I are concerned by the fact that he is rolling his eyes and is lathargic. I tell her that he isn't throwing up so I thought it was just a cold.
1.30pm. He begins to throw up.
6.00pm. Vomitting profusley, high fever and the start of a bad cough.
8.00pm. Off to the hospital.
9.00pm Doctor confirms it is NOT a concussion,
but that he is worried about Sam's chest as he hears "crackles". He insists on giving him anti-biotics.
10.00pm. Sam is fussy as hell, but eventually calms down.
11.00pm. Sam asleep.
Next day Sunday:
Sam seems to be getting better.
11.00 - Guests arrive - Sam is lathargic, but generally okay.
1.00pm - Vomitting starts again.
8.00pm - His breathing is really bad. His chest is heaving and in between breaths he cries as if in pain. Back to the hospital.
9.00pm - Sam takes a serious turn for the worse. His temperature is recorded at 105 degrees and we are told he is to be admitted. Chest X-Rays reveal serious pnemonia in his left lung, with traces in the right. The poor child simply couldn't breath and we eventually had to restrain him and force an oxygen mask on him.
From this point on we were questioned by everyone there at least 2 or 3 times as to whether or not Sam has been in contact with anyone outside the island, or whether he had been in a hospital overseas recently. We confirm that he hasn't, but that he attends a play group during the day and that we had NO IDEA who he came into cointact with there. The doctor finally admits that they are concerned Sam might have SARS.
Needless to say I didn't sleep much that night..the wife stayed with Sam as I had to be home with his brother.
Monday:
One sick, sick little boy...but there are signs that he is reacting well to the IV fed anti-biotics.
Fact is though...after speaking with the staff it became painfully obvious that there is no plan in place to deal with SARS if it strikes here.
After informing my father what the hospital staff told me about their lack of preparedness for a disease like SARS he got on the phone to the local newspaper. Hopefully something good might come out of all this.
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Pneumonia is worrisome all by itself. The timing of this makes it 10 times worse.
Hope the little rat is doing OK. I don't envy you this aspect of parenthood.
MiniD
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I wish you luck.
miko
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Scary stuff Curval.
I hope Sam is feeling better.
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How old's the little guy?
Hope he gets better soon.
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I hope your son gets better :(
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Best of luck to Sam, Curval.
You both are in my thoughts.
Think positive, get your own rest and be hopeful.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
He'll pull through; kids are tough.
Be positive.
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Hope He Gets Better man. Best of luck ill keep you in my prayers.
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I hope it gets well soon, Curval!
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Hang in there Sam.. and family.
scary stuff.
gets lots rest.. dads gotta be strong fer momma and the boys. keep a positive attitude... hug 'em all fer me.
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Thanks for your thoughts guys.
Tarmac, Sam turned two in February.
I just spoke to my wife. Sam is breathing a bit better this morning, they have turned down his oxygen to the lowest setting, so he is basically "on his own" with respect to oxygenation levels and he seems to be able to keep those levels within the right range. He is coughing alot, which in this case is very good as he needs to cough out the nastiness in his lower lung. To facilitate this we have had to hold him almost upside down and we have to pat his back where the infected area is...the idea being to get the gunk into his upper lung so that he can cough it up. We seem to be succesful thus far.
He also seems to be brighter this morning, so I am hoping the anti-biotics are really starting to kick this thing in the ass.
Heading back to the hospital in a few minutes.
Thanks again guys.
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Mornin Curv. Good news to start the day then. :)
(http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/extern/640697.jpg)
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Heya Curv, the little guy will make it thru. This is why we parents lose hair or have hair turn grey, worrying about our little ones. He'll pull thru it fine. Give your wife a hug of reassurance, she probably needs it too.
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I hope he is getting better. Your first posts sounds like every parents nightmare. Hang in there bud, our thoughts are with you and the little one.
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hey Curval, well wishes for the little man !
sounds like maybe he's over the worst of it. WTFG !
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Sounds terrible mate. Glad his condition has improved. Sounds like speedy action saved the day. Best wishes.
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OK!
He is definately improving minute by minute. He even laughed when he pulled my chest hair and I yelped in pain. The little rascal is getting back to normal. He drank some juice and even ate some pudding.
PHEW!
I'm on a break from watching him and gonna grab a few winks.
Never let anyone tell you raising kids is easy.:)
Thanks again for all your thoughts. Looks like the worst is over.
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Great news!
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Great news Curval, some of the most gut renching times I had were when my little ones were so sick that I sat by their bedside all night listening to them breathe, it is a great sign that he is drinking juice, if he wasn't -that would bother me, pump the fluids through him and I hope he gets better fast
God Bless
NwBie
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:)
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Very good to hear Curval. Very good.
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PHEW! :)
Originally posted by Curval
PHEW!
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God bless, Prayers work!
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Kids are tuff!!! Prayers Do Work!
Glad to hear Sam pulled through Curval!
:)
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Great news man.. glad to hear it!
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The newspaper is writing a front page story based upon my conversation with the nursing staff and the lack of preparation for a SARS outbreak here...I may post it, we'll see. They are going to give the hospital administration until tomorrow to respond..if they don't they run the story the day after tomorrow. If they respond tonight it will run tomorrow.
Sam wants to go home now...he was wiggling out of my lap and onto the floor (standing) and trying to walk out. Problem is there are too many tubes sticking out of him right now.:)
He is doing great and even ate a hot dog. Quite a change from two days ago...they get sick SO FAST, but they bounce back almost as quickly.
Gotta run...back to my second home, the hospital.
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Originally posted by Curval
The newspaper is writing a front page story based upon my conversation with the nursing staff and the lack of preparation for a SARS outbreak here...I may post it, we'll see. They are going to give the hospital administration until tomorrow to respond..if they don't they run the story the day after tomorrow. If they respond tonight it will run tomorrow.
Sam wants to go home now...he was wiggling out of my lap and onto the floor (standing) and trying to walk out. Problem is there are too many tubes sticking out of him right now.:)
He is doing great and even ate a hot dog. Quite a change from two days ago...they get sick SO FAST, but they bounce back almost as quickly.
Gotta run...back to my second home, the hospital.
:)
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Sammy Wammy went home this morning.
The past 4 days have seemed like a month.
He is doing great and one happy little boy to be heading home.
The article appeared on the front page of the newspaper yesterday and since then the health officials here have been scrambling to cover their butts and show the island how well prepared they are for a SARS outbreak. They claimed on the news last night that procedures have been in place for a week and that the "printed case (Sam)" was one that they were sure didn't warrent any special attention in relation to SARS. I really don't care that they aren't really being truthful because they are now getting procedures in place to educate the doctors and nurses, as well as setting up isolation wards etc. Sometimes they just need a good kick in the bellybutton to get them motivated.
I'll scan the article if anyone is interested, no biggie if not.
Thanks again guys for your thoughts and prayers.
Curval
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Scan it... we're all interested.
Glad the little guy is OK. I imagine he probably got the royal treatment upon his "return" to the hospital. I'm still somewhat myffed that they sent a child home with pnemonia symtoms (the first time).
Damn... really glad it worked out OK
MiniD
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Well, given that the paper is a day behind on the internet I figured I'd save time and just post the link to the story.
Article here (http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030402&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=104020045&Ref=AR)
:)
The scary thing is that there IS NO test (anywhere) for SARS as far as I have been made aware, and as far as the health department here is aware. If anyone knows of any test that may be availiable please let me know.
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Told you kids were tough!
Very glad to hear it. I had pneumonia about 7 years ago and it flattened me for a LONG time. He'll probably take a while to get back to his truly "old self".
Very happy for you and yours Curval.
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Curval,
Today on FOX it was anounced that CDC now has a test for SARS.
Scott
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Originally posted by Scootter
Curval,
Today on FOX it was anounced that CDC now has a test for SARS.
Scott
Thanks man, any link available? I'm going to check it now.
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Originally posted by Curval
Well, given that the paper is a day behind on the internet I figured I'd save time and just post the link to the story.
Article here (http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030402&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=104020045&Ref=AR)
:)
The scary thing is that there IS NO test (anywhere) for SARS as far as I have been made aware, and as far as the health department here is aware. If anyone knows of any test that may be availiable please let me know.
HK government health service had a working test sometime last week (according to the news) - took a day to process results as I recall. Try www.info.gov.hk/dh/ap.htm (http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/ap.htm) or www.info.gov.hk (http://www.info.gov.hk) for details.
Found this from a speech the Chief Executive (and Koala look-alike) Tung King Wah, March 27:
"I must emphasise that although the disease is serious, we have a first-class public health system, highly professional medical staff and talented medical research teams. Since the cases occurred in Hong Kong on March 10, which was 17 days ago, we have made substantial progress in four areas. First, we have identified the source of the disease. Second, we have successfully discovered the new virus. Third, we have successfully developed a quick diagnostic test. Fourth, targetted treatment methods which are 80 to 90 per cent effective. In other words, among the 150 to 160 patients who have received effective treatment, the success rate is more than 80 per cent. You can see that we have achieved a lot in the past 17 days, in particular in medical development. Professor Yuen and Professor Tam will elaborate on this later."
But really there's not much cause for alarm if your kid responded to antibiotics, as SARS is a virus, and therefore is pretty much unaffected by antibiotics. The HK health workers used all sorts of antibiotics to no avail, and seem to have settled on ribavirin (an anti-viral) and corticosteroids as a working treatment.