the fearing and overcoming Flu A

Right in the middle of celebrating the younger brother's big day, Zaiid came home from school sick. It was alarming because the fever came so sudden and the teachers reported that he vomitted twice. There was no way of detecting that he might be feeling a little low on that day because he was bright as the sunshine right before we send him off to school.

He wasn't coughing or showing any signs of a running or a stuffy nose. He had his afternoon nap for 3 hours. But the fever never went lower than 37.7 even after he had taken Calpol. So we hurriedly took him to his doctor.

I was expecting they would get a blood test but instead they had a viral check through his little nose. They advised us to go home and come back after an hour for the result.

Back at Akii's party, Zaiid was feeling all groovy and showed no signs of distress whatsoever. He was dancing, entertaining our friends, happily opening HIS presents, enjoying his little brother's day. We were thankful for our friends who celebrated with us. I thought nothing could break this moment. But I was cut short when I received a phone call by our doctor who sounded worried. I was worried. I couldn't get the details. He said "Zaiid is positive. Please send the husband. Right now."

At about 45 minutes, my husband brought the news that our son has the Influenza A virus. My knees felt wobbly. I couldn't find myself to believe that we will make it through. Swine flu is getting on the front page these days and we are a bit alarmed. But please not my Zaiid! Our doctor advised us to go to another hospital to get a confirmation if he's got the swine flu or a different kind of Flu. All we could do is pray.

At 10:30 pm we arrived at Al Wasl Hospital and was immediately ordered to wait inside a room with just me and Zaiid. We were being isolated from the rest of the crowd while Dwynn filled up forms and bought masks. Soon, a local mother and boy, maybe a year younger than Zaiid, came to join us. We were both having the same problem making our boys wear their masks. After some minutes of waiting and praying, the doctor said there was no need for the confirmation because the medication stays the same with H1N1 or with the other Influenza A types. And so we went home with the Tamiflu capsules.

But then we were facing with a bigger problem. We needed to isolate Zaiid from his little brother. The only one solution we had at hand is to let Zaiid stay at a hotel. So the following day, we left Akii and Auntie Nana at home.

For 5 days we survived. For my 3.2yo boy, staying at the hotel was a little getaway vacation. Even if he stayed indoors, he was always up and jumping. We made sure we are armed with his cars, trains, favorite books, his new drumset, and the powerful "Apple". On the third day his fever had gone completely. Every morning, I leave him with his Papa at the hotel to go back home to check on Akii and to cook for our meals and sterilize the milk bottles. I missed Akii so much and I know that he missed me too. Even if it's hard for us to be apart, we feel very blessed to have such an ordered chaos.

Now Zaiid has fully recovered and the baby manghud has been spared by the virus. Thank God! Thank God for Auntie Nana who gave her all especially in taking care of Akii alone. Thank God for friends and family who prayed with us. And thank God for the timing - the day before my husband flies to Argentina, all's well and back to normal.

We are going back to school next week, hooray!