Some things we don’t take seriously can have significant consequences that we can not even imagine from a mile away. In 2019, when COVID-19 took hold worldwide, people were confined to staying at home, everyone was seen getting vaccinations, and the dynamics of how various things functioned changed. The mother chose to share her story, not to scare people but to spread awareness regarding how carelessness could be costly.
Hundreds of people put forward their theories and denied that a virus so serious existed. However, the affected people know how much they had to endure, mostly alone! This story from the coronavirus era comes straight from Pennsylvania, and for the parents who had to see their child breathless and struggling, it was no less than a nightmare.
Cayden, the baby, was already suffering from poor health, but the condition got worse when his mother noticed that the baby was unable to breathe correctly. The mother works in healthcare and always takes time before taking any family members to the ER. Especially for kids, she is extremely cautious. However, the respiratory distress that Cayden had was an indication that the baby might have contracted the virus.
She first called and informed the ER of how there could be a possibility of the patient contracting COVID, but he had to be treated because of the trouble he had while breathing. Despite the grave situation, ER did not allow them to come in and told the mother to contact the CDC. Contacting the CDC meant waiting for hours to speak to someone who might not even know what exactly had to be done, and yes, that was the case! After waiting two hours, the healthcare professional spoke to someone unaware of the issue and its solution.
Imagine how a mother must feel while she holds her child who isn’t able to breathe normally and simultaneously waits for hours to hear a solution, which she does not get. Then, the couple drove to the hospital where the mother herself worked, and the doctor there recommended that the baby be kept under observation for at least the next 24 hours. Still, the admission to the hospital was denied due to the ongoing pandemic.
Not giving up, the couple drove to another hospital an hour away, where the entire process had to be repeated. All this time, Ceydan’s condition kept getting worse. By the time he got checked, he had an abnormal heart rate, and the breathing struggle continued. Tests confirmed that the baby had a positive Flu A result; however, the fact that it could be COVID was scary.
The mother wanted to address the importance of awareness and staying prepared for any situation, as the presence of the virus had changed how accessible healthcare was. The resources and supplies were limited, and the cases were innumerable! The least we can do is protect ourselves, as despite being a nurse herself, the mother was helpless when the one struggling was her baby.
Understanding reality is the key to avoiding inconvenience in such times!
