Germs Germs Germs!!

When you know your immunocompromised child has been in contact with somebody that is unwell you literally feel like you are waiting for the inevitable. We do our utmost to protect and prepare for these situations but sometimes things are out of our control. Not all illnesses show visible symptoms until it's too late and the germs are already spread around. Other times sick children are dosed up on medicine and sent out to mingle with others because it's only something 'minor' and they seem fine.

Sadly what is 'minor' to one could be major to another and I think people genuinely do not realise this, because unless you've been in these 'Cancer Parent' shoes you wouldn't to be honest. This is why schools with sick children do try to police these things more so than their attendance records and they will try to make other parents aware but it isn't always followed. I'm lucky our school is pretty amazing with this but there are always risks and those who don't seem unwell to the outside world.

We have been lucky that the general cold viruses of winter have come and gone with no real effects. The one that hit us hard over Christmas was a D&V bug which was caught from somewhere outside of school. Sadly this what I'm anticipating we may have caught unknowingly now. Dylan doesn't handle being sick very well, he panics that he can't breathe and then ends up hyperventilating (which is not good for his lungs) and almost passing out.

Of course there has been numerous Chicken Pox incidents and we are now at the peak of that season.. as predicted Dylan starts his third course of preventative antibiotics this weekend because of contact with Chicken Pox again, but that is impossible to avoid because you are contagious for 48hrs prior to any symptoms or spots. This is why it is such a common childhood illness but it can have devastating consequences for people with low immune systems.

Truthfully anything contagious that causes a fever is a danger to Dylan.. sadly this is one of the most common things children are sent out into the world with after a dose of calpol. Oncology patients aren't allowed to be given calpol, even if they develop a fever. A fever is one of the first warning signs of serious infection and in patients with a Hickman Line or Port it could signal a line infection which can be VERY dangerous as of course it is a direct line to the bloodstream. Calpol reduces fever and therefore can cover up serious underlying issues. This is in fact one of the things that happened last March as Dylan was having paracetamol for pain relief so his fever was masked by this and we weren't aware he had an infection until it was serious.

Dylan also has previously had what is called a Febrile Seizure because of a fever. These are more common in under threes (some people state under fives) but if you have had one before it can indicate a person is more prone to them. It is the body / brains reaction to a rapidly rising temperature. Dylan's febrile seizure(s) caused him to stop breathing and need CPR and ventilation so I would rather not have that happen again as I do not want to be back where we were last Easter. I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we survive the night / weekend with no adverse effects of these germs he has been in contact with. We were supposed to be attending a birthday party tomorrow but IF we make it through the night with no illness I will likely not be sending him as it is mostly nursery children so I'd rather not risk more potential D&V exposure should we be lucky enough to avoid it. If he is well enough it would be wonderful to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine! <3

*Apologies for the double posting tonight, I'm making up for lost time now I have a (half) working app!!