There Is No Choice
Warning: *It is August and there are already children having to be hospitalized for RSV, pneumonia, and other respiratory illness. This is not their fault, rather it is the wider community that surrounds them that needs to be held accountable! Yes, I am slightly perturbed at the “adults” in this world at the moment.*
Personally, I know two children who have been hospitalized with pneumonia in the past month. Their stays were short compared to some, because of their parents being acutely aware of their health and taking quick action. Never hesitate when a child is involved!
As the above quote hits the nail on the head for people who have chronic illness, they are not given a choice to “do” or “not do” some things. Children with chronic illness (and their parents) don’t have the luxury of choosing to distance, they MUST. They MUST stay at home when there is an outbreak of respiratory/any illness/virus. And when they are not made aware of a virus or illness making its rounds at school or activities, they more times than not, end up in the ER and possibly admitted to the hospital. They MUST mask up for even the littlest bit of protection. They MUST get vaccines, the whole family, to protect the whole household from having any full-on virus or illness. They MUST learn hygiene that is, to someone looking in from the outside, on the edge of obsessive, yet for them is incredibly necessary.
Why do I get perturbed? Let me share my top 5 reasons: 😊
#1: My inside emotions always are ruffled this time a year when all the flu vaccine debate starts. I am willing to acknowledge that there is a legit fear of needles. I acknowledge that some of you may not be able to medically receive a vaccine. But the vaccine is not the whole point, so hear me out.
#2: Simple Hygiene goes a long way. I am unsure of where our hygiene “manners” went, unless they flew out the window with our disregard for our healthcare systems, but it seems as if we have forgotten them. The most basic is washing your hands, I feel silly typing this but, with soap! and sing happy birthday! Scrub your nails, in between your fingers, and your wrists! Coughing and sneezing, which are super spreaders, into your elbow or even better a tissue that can go right in the toilet ❤️ where all tissues should go- not in the trash can😳 (pet peeve of mine) And good golly shower or bathe regularly.
#3: Mask up! I am going to give a link at the bottom of this post to some really awesome masks that I just discovered. It’s not pleasant to mask up, however, it has been proven for many, many years that it can slow the spread of germs, especially airborne germs. My Mom has had some immune diagnoses over the past 12 years, and this year they have become really apparent and masking up when going to any office or populated place, sometimes even outside with all the allergens, is something we just do, we don’t even think twice. Masks are not a cure all, no one ever said they were. They also are not going to hurt you either, so when asked or advised to wear one, wear it properly without a fight, there are an abundance of unseen illnesses that you don’t need to see or experience (believe me- you don’t want to!) just do your part and put on a mask! Please and thank you!
#4: Stock up on some tests: I will also give a link for where you can find tests. It’s good to go ahead and be proactive before a surge. Covid is here to stay, just like the flu. Use common sense. Know the symptoms. Don’t be arrogant.
#5: And the easiest thing of all: DISTANCE yourself when sick! If you are sick, if you are taking care of someone who is sick, put a hold on your calendar. You may want to cream me, but this IS possible! If it was possible in the 80s and 90s, have mercy, it’s possible in this tech age of grocery and prescription delivery! The best thing is to give the one who is sick a room and a bathroom to themselves for the days they are sick. The rest of the family stay out of this part of the house. The one who is helping the one who is sick, hygiene is key: mask, gloves, etc. Nobody gets better by pushing themselves harder. Rest is the most natural way of healing. And exposing others to your germs is not considerate, nor is it improving your life in any way.
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“I wasn’t given a choice.”
Personally I have had many “no choice” in the matters of health boundary lines- the musts are absolute MUSTS, the can’ts and don’ts are absolute NO-NOs. I cannot even think of a time when any of the above reasons were ever a negotiable for me. The beauty of not being given a choice is something that I am extremely thankful for.
Do you ever have a part of your life that the decisions or information simply just become all consuming and overwhelming? Sometimes you just want someone else to answer a few of the questions for you, make an action plan?
That’s how health, medical, and everything that goes along with this part of my life is- just need someone to take a little bit of the load off. The five reasons above are ways that the medical community have guided me to lighten the load. These things might be simple, but the ripple effect is life saving, energy saving. It also can be for you too and those around you. When you have multiple medical diagnoses that conflict with each other, information can be overwhelming and action plans can be consuming. So the simplest of things can bring you the greatest joy! Like masks that you don’t suck in every time you breathe! Or clorox spray that has no odor, but does the same exact disinfecting!
Thanks for hanging with me today! I’m about to give a bunch of resources- I hope some or maybe even all can come in handy 😊 Get rest and ’cause nobody wants to be in the hospital! (of course, unless they have to be and need to be!)
Life Book of the Week: I am a Booger… Treat me with Respect, by Julia Cook
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-supply-distribution.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/by-age/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/about/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html
https://www.cdc.gov/covid/testing
Free Tests at the end of September! https://aspr.hhs.gov/covid-19/test/Pages/default.aspx
