Thursday, March 28, 2024

A Measly Time of it

The preparations for school are underway. You’re finally finding yourself and restoring some sort of routine back in the house after a hectic summer. Then you discover your three under three have measles…
I shit you not.
Kadie had what we assumed was a viral infection. You know the temps, rattiness, the constant need to up in arms. A rash followed and again we thought nothing of it. It’s not uncommon for our family to get a viral rash and she seemed much perkier. Until it got redder and redder soon clotting all over her face and Frankie started getting spots too. Then Kenzie.
Bollox.
Panic stations.
Off to the GP.
With a very suspicious look on his face, he gave each of the kids a thorough check over. He wasn’t too bothered about Frankie, he literally just had a few spots on his face, chest and back. After chats about vaccinations, he told us he suspected measles. Kadie had all the symptoms, sensitivity to light, red swollen eyes, crazy temperatures, a couple of white spots in her mouth and the clotted rash. She hasn’t had her MMR as she only turned one last week, nor has Kenzie, who now had a rash head to toe.
We were sent to A&E with Kenzie and seen to within minutes. We were only there ten minutes and a Pediatrician was off ringing Infectious Diseases in UCD and on her return our visit was turning into an overnight stay. Being honest I thought she fine, I wanted to be home with Kadie, the one in an absolute hoop. Kenzie just had spots but the doctors were very concerned because she was so small, her immunity may not have been able to fight it if it did happen to progress.
Kenzie had some blood tests done, some were sent off to UCD. Then there were talks of her immunity and if the bacteria got in her blood, how it could lead to meningitis and how they might want to give her an immunity infusion. Basically a transfusion of blood donor immunity.
What?
They checked my immunity with the Coombe which was high and with breastfeeding I had passed some of my immunity onto her. Yah for mammy milk!
We were put into isolation or ‘quarantine’, at this stage and all nurses and doctors that visited were covered head to toe. I had a fit of giggles every time I saw them prepping to enter our room you know to visit Kenzie a seven-week-old baby snoring on her backside. She was oblivious to what was going on and throwing smiles and coos left, right and centre.
Thankfully Kenzie only got what they call the ‘mini-measles’ and she was discharged the next morning, as did Frankie as he’s had his first vaccination. Poor Kadie got the brunt of it. I couldn’t wait to get home to her. She literally cried or slept her way through it, no cuddles, no pain relief or treats on this earth helped how she felt.
Who knew the measles was so serious, or so contagious? I’ve never heard of anyone close to me who has had them. We have no clue where the kids picked them up, the only places we’ve been recently is the zoo, and at that, it was a few weeks back.
We were recommended not to let the big kid go to school for fear she could have been carrying the virus and pass it on to her school friends. That was the last thing we needed, imagine, starting a measles epidemic in your local area. I’d be so lucky. The poor kid sat by the window devastated watching all her friends walk by our house.
This week we’ve been to hell and back but thankfully it’s all over now. As of yesterday, everyone is 100% again, We will never know where we picked up the measles and we’ll hopefully never have to go through it again. If you haven’t vaccinated your kid against measles please do, it’s horrific to watch any child go through something that is preventable.
Kellie Kearney
Kellie Kearneyhttps://mylittlebabog.com/
Hi! I'm Kellie, a mammy of six vibrant youngsters. Juggling the roles of stay-at-home parent, I share honest stories and parenting fails. You'll often find me as a mum bun wearer, professional cake eater, and also a coffee lover. My typical day involves navigating through parenting challenges, whether it's enticing my little ones with a tempting custard cream, googling our next adventure, or eagerly awaiting Joe's return home. Join me on this rollercoaster journey of love, chaos, and laughter!

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