Swine Flu: First American Life Claimed

Texas state welcome sign
Image via Wikipedia

The news is sad on this day.  The first American to die of swine flu has been reported!  I always think that it is sad that people pass but this woman was a remarkable woman.  Judy Trunnell was only 33 years old when swine flu claimed her life.  She was about to embark on a new stage in her life.  She was about to have a baby.  Her daughter was born after she slipped into a coma.  From my understanding of what I have read she did not even get to see her new baby girl!

Judy Trunnell was a school teacher, from Texas, who had dedicated her career to children with disabilities.  She was admitted intot he hospital yesterday and died yesterday.  Her family is greiving as I can imagine.

I would like to take this chance to send my prayers to Judy Trunnell’s family.  May they share in the joy of what she has left behind; a beautiful healthy baby girl.  I know her husband must now be having mixed emotions and I pray that he find a way to keep his wife Judy Trunnell alive in his heart.  I pray that he is able to show is new born baby girl all that his mother was.  I pray that this family work through this.

The flu this year  has truly been a killer flu.  I hope that we find better ways to fight this flu before next flu season.  I am asking that you please keep Judy Trunnell’s family in your prayers.  I do not know her but all I can think about is that baby without its mother.  My heart breaks just thinking about it all!

Becca

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Swine Flu Symptoms: A World Epidemic

Influenza en México
Image by ALTO CONTRASTE . Edgar AVG. via Flickr

Swine Flu Facts:

Swine flu is so named swine influenza, hog flu or pig flu.  Although this new mutate strain is not true swine flu it is a variation of influenza.  The origins of this new strain are currently unknown although it has been seen in pigs it is not exclusive to swine.  The current worry started in Mexico and has quickly moved to the US.  Living in New York I have to say that I am a little worried.  Schools in the city have been closed.  Schools here, about an hour outside of the city, are talking about the possibility of closing and my mother in law keeps telling me about an influenza book that she read.  According to her this is what was happening in the early 1900′s when the flu took out a huge portion of the population.  Although I keep telling her that she is worrying for nothing and that medical awareness and treatment is much different then it was in 1909 I have to admit that I am a little worried.  Perhaps the worry comes out of a student of mother whom I am acquainted with died from the flu a month ago.  Either way I feel it necessary to know what we can do and what to look for.

Swine Flu Symptoms:

I think that it is important to know what we are looking for.  If we can identify the symptoms we can make smart decisions as to seeking medical attention.

  1. A fever over 100 degrees
  2. cough
  3. Sore throat
  4. Runny nose
  5. Stuffy nose
  6. Muscle pain
  7. Fatigue
  8. Vomiting
  9. Diarrhea

It ius advised that if you have any of these symptoms you call your Dr.  It is also advised that you keep children who are sick home and not have kids out of the house.

Swine Flu Precautions:

  1. Wash you hands often.  Just as we teach kids it is important to wash you hands while you sing happy birthday twice the rule works well for adults as well.  I know I do it… in my head of course!  Frequent hand washing is important.  The amount of time you are washing is just as important.  Make sure that you get in between all of your fingers, under your nails and your wrists also.  DO NOT JUST RINSE!
  2. Use hand sanitizers.  The hand sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol.  If you opt for the wipes it is important to assure that you dispose of them properly.
  3. Keep your hands away from your face.  This means no playing with your chapped lips, no biting your nails and no picking your nose.  I felt that I should add that last one for the ones who do it.  You know who you are!
  4. Cover your sneezes.  It is important to use the inside of your elbow or tissues for this.  I know when I was young we were taught to use our hands but that is not the acceptable way anymore.  That just helps to spread germs!
  5. Make sure that you help you kids do the same!

While all of these precautions are effective there is one that I have heard in completely ineffective.  Wearing surgical masks is not advisable.  One would have to change into a new mask every few hours in order for it to be effective.  It was described in a way that made me feel it was good sound advise.  The mask traps germs.  After a few hours it has trapped all of the germs it can and you begin breathing in those germs.  You also use your hands to remove the germ filled mask spreading it to other parts of your body.

I hope that all of this information helps.  I think that if we all remain calm and follow the above precautions we will all come out of this fine.  Oh and one other thing.  It is completely fine to eat pork.  You will not get swine flu by eating pork!  Good luck!

Becca

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

My Emma is Sick!!

None - This image is in the public domain and ...
Image via Wikipedia

So after all of the flu hype around here recently, Emma is sick.  I just cannot believe it.  She developed a fever last night.  I am just so worried about it!  I know in my head that I am being silly but really I am worried.  I wanted to sit in bed with her all night and make sure that she was OK.  I wanted to tell her I loved her 1000000000 times just in case something terrible happened.

Emma has had a flu shot and I am sure that it is something else like an ear infection.  All I know is when her temperature read 102.4 I was worried.  I was scared.  I prayed.  Yes I know that it seems silly but I guess that I am still shaken a little by the entire thing!  I just want my baby to be alright.  When ever Emma gets sick she does it right.  She gets a high fever and cannot function.  I think that in part this is due to the cerbral palsy.  Her muscles just do not seem to be able to do anything.

I still pray that my baby Emma will be alright with this whole thing.  I cannot bring her to the doctor because it is Sunday.  Poor Emma is missing her first Saint Patrick’s Day parade today.  She was suposed to march in honor of the young girl who died.  Some Girl Scouts have chosen to march in memory of her but I guess we will miss it and stay home sick!

Becca

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Killer Flu!

DENPASAR, INDONESIA - NOVEMBER 7:  A scientist...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Earlier this week I had written about a friends daughter who died suddenly last Saturday.    It turned out that she had the flu which caused her to pass way before her time.  I am floored by this.  This is, thank God, the first year that all of my kids had a flu shot.  I am thanking my lucky stars now.  This strain of the flu is aggressive.  She had not felt well the evening before and died 24 hours later!

In wake of this I hear that the schools will be undergoing massive cleanings this weekend.  The department of health is also offering free flu vaccines tomorrow!  It makes me think though.  I cannot tell you how many times I let my kids be sick.  I am not one to rush to the Dr. the second they get a fever.  I let them work through for a day or two.  Runny noses are never a second though.   I assume that it is a cold and move on.  I know that there are a lot of other parents out there like me.  I know that I am not alone.

This also makes me think about the flu.  Why is this strain of the flu so strong that it is killing people within 24 hours.  I heard about a week before this happen that there were two other girls who died on Long Island.  The day that this child died another girl on Staten Island died of the flu as well.  Why are the strains of the flu suddenly so strong?  Perhaps the flu is becoming stronger because we keep fighting it with vaccines?  Is it possible that in the long run we are doing more harm then good?

I am not a scientist so who knows.   All I know is that I am now a little worried about my kids.  Will the same fate fall upon my babies?  How do we know how much longer we will have with anyone we love?  I am again thinking about how I want to make each day count.  I want them to know that they were loved and have a happy home!

Becca

    Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

    You Want Me to Put that Where?

    Image of a container of Vicks VapoRub

    Image via Wikipedia

    OK I know… it is not what you are thinking.  It is so much cleaner and better then what you are thinking.  This is a G rated site you know.

    About a month ago my mother in law had advised me to put Vicks Vapor rub on little Analiese’s feet.  I had though that she was nuts!  Why would I put Vick’s on my babies feet?  So the next day my mother in law emails me an article on how putting vicks on a babies feet is actually better for the baby then putting it on their chest.  I laughed and forwarded it all of my friends.  I was thinking that they would also find the whole thing quite funny!

    A few days later a saw one of the friends that I had emailed the article to in the Mall.  She was so happy and excited.  She had told me that her daughter had been sick with a cough for about a week.  She had said that the poor baby had not even been able to sleep laying down so my friend had been holding he all night long!   Then she went on to tell me something quite shocking.  She tried the Vick’s on the feet solution out of sheer desperation and IT WORKED!  She was thanking me profusely.  I had to come clean and let her know that it was my mother in law who had figured it all out!

    I have not had a sick child since my mother in law mentioned the Vicks on the feet trick.  I am anxious to try it on someone… Darn that flu shot! I would love to hear who out there has tried it.

    Becca

    Zemanta Pixie