This week wasn’t about getting out and about. It is by far not about spending time outdoors in the nature. This week is something that nobody is ever prepared for. It has tested us to a great extend, I wish, it will not happen to anyone. It has made us stop and appreciate every tiny help and assistance.
Last week I ended my post, by writing about all three kids being ill by Sunday. Well, the saga doesn’t end there. This week has brought more sorrow that my heart could handle. This illness has taken over control in our family.
RSV infection
I am being told that this is all over the news. But I stopped listening to the news when the last pandemic hit the media. So I haven’t heard of this virus before. Now I learnt that the smaller the child, the sicker they get . So having three kids 5 and under mixing with the virus has brought us to our knees.
Our eldest was poorly for two days last week and he then carried on with simple winter cold symptoms. Heavily runny noise and coughing but good mood overall.
Our one and half year old had a fever for 6 days. Her temperature stayed just under 39 degrees but enough to make her feel weak. Coughing is causing the biggest problem for her as she can barely sleep at night. She cries and coughs when she should be resting, and she is not in a good mood during the day. Friday she was finally fever free and her appetite has came back to some extent.
But our youngest got the worst of it. He started to cough on Sunday, he stopped drinking Monday night. Tuesday morning he throw up the milk, he got from the bottle. Immediately, I called the paediatrician, however it is Sports Holiday in Switzerland, and the call went to voicemail directly. So I called the hospital and they said to bring him in along with my daughter (who at this point had fever for three days and a bad chesty cough).
In the First Hospital
When we arrived, we were seen immediately. Our three weeks old was attended by the nurse pronto, while the doctor was asking all the questions. Filling in the registration forms with the translator app, answering all the questions to the doctor, while trying to keep our daughter in the room when she has no intention of staying, was not ideal.
Luckily, my husband managed to leave work and follow me to the hospital. So he caught up with us at the emergency room and he took over our daughter’s examination with the doctor, while I attended to our son and his nurse. Our daughter was cleared by the doctor from further tests and they were happy to send her home based on the fact that she was walking around and drinking water.
By this time, our son’s blood test confirmed that he has RSV infection. He was put on the monitor to keep an eye on his oxygen level. The sensor showed 100%, then it went down to 62%. Then it went up to 100% then down again. We got a room on the ward and we were prepped to stay for a couple of nights under close observation of the nurses and doctors.
However, his condition has deteriorated, in a matter of couple of hours, to the point that the head of the ward had to look for another hospital with an ICU unit. It was challenging due to the holidays. St. Gallen and Zurich hospitals were at full capacity, so we were prepped to be transferred to Chur.
By this time our son’s body was massaged by the nurses to keep his heart pumping, while the helicopter arrived. It felt like hours by the time the crew has arrived. Unfortunately, the fog was so thick above our canton that the helicopter had to land elsewhere and the crew came to the hospital on an ambulance. The doctor and the nurse, who flew from Chur, have prepped our son for the journey and gave us instructions on how to make our way to the hospital where we can reunite.
In the Second Hospital
Upon our arrival, the doctor and nurses had already done what they could to comfort our son. However, to maintain his stability, they had to sedate and intubate him. According to the doctor, the procedure went well, but I can hardly recall anything aside from being a walking fountain of tears. It was a scary experience, and everything seemed to happen so quickly that I could barely grasp the gravity of the situation. I was going with the flow, hanging onto every word that the doctor and nurses spoke.
Waiting for it to peak
We were fortunate enough to get a room to sleep in. However, the next few days were as hard as we expected them to be. We were told that the virus peaks between days 5 and 7, so we prepared ourselves for the worst. His oxygen levels were unstable, even on the machine. Fortunately, the machine was able to provide him with the much-needed oxygen when his little body was unable to. The machine also kept his lungs inflated to make it easier for him to breathe. The aim was to reduce the amount of energy he needed to take a breath.
His temperature was up and down, which meant that some further blood tests were required. Luckily no further infection was detected. This virus turned his saliva into a gluey, stretchy structure. It would have been impossible for him to cough it up, even if, he had had energy to do so. So it had to be sucked out for days.
Meanwhile at Home
When one is poorly and taken away from the tribe, the worry settles in to every family members mind. Our eldest son told me he is worried about his little sister as she keeps coughing at night and doesn’t want to play during the day. Meanwhile his younger brother and mommy are only visible on a video call twice a day. It is hard enough for a grown up, let alone to a young boy who is just starting to gasp more complex situations of life.
As reality settles in, we brace ourselves for a couple of weeks separation and sorting out the logistics of supplies, making sure that everyone carries on as ‘normal’ as possible.
Awakening
Saturday brought hope, as he was expected to be ex-tubated. His oxygen levels improved and apnea decreased throughout the week. When I was told on Friday, that the next they his tube will be removed, suddenly my world was shaken again. I only just got used to what I saw and heard and everything seemed to improve slowly but steadily. Now, an aid is being replaced and he will be woken up. As much I longed to see his eyes again, I couldn’t shake off the worry of the unknown. How is he going to react and what to expect? Nobody could tell us in advance exactly.
‘We take one step at a time.’ I am being reminded. And I know, deep down that he is at the best place possible. With that thought I settle in for the night once again exhausted but full of hopes and worry at the same time.
Expat Mom Journal 