Maddie is home from the hospital; the best diagnosis was scarlet fever. IV fluids and penicillin put her on the road to recovery within 36 hours, and she is now watching bad Patrick Swayze movies on the couch.
Yesterday was scary. Even when you are surrounded by well-trained physicians in a good hospital, it's impossible not to be very frightened when your child is too sick to stand or speak much, is running a high fever, and is covered with a rash that seems to radiate infrared heat.
I think back to the parents of just two generations ago, who in our situation might easily have watched their child die of complications to this disease.
Modern medicine is good. It's very good, and don't let this jerk tell you any different.
UPDATE: Feeling extra grateful after reading this, this, this, and this. Hat tip to Ed. We'll add our prayers to the rest.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Drugs Are Good
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8 comments:
Glad she's home and on the way back to normal. I had scarlet fever when I was 8 (in the 3rd grade). I remember it well. For those who may not recall, penicillin wasn't that easy to get back then. There was a quarantine sign on the front door (very common back then). I was "Typhoid Sue." Only my sister could play with me. I was miserable. I spent weeks in that bed with only my mother to talk to during 90% of the days. Spent my birthday in that bed. Gawd, I remember how sick I was.
You're right. Good drugs are lifesavers and I'm glad you have decent or better medical insurance, are educated, can talk to and understand medical folks, and have the means to get your kid to the hospital when she's sick. Now go watch bad movies and then read to her some more.
Best to her, and you. Sorry to hear she was ill -- I'm sure you faked the unflappable dad thing well. EC
Thanks to both of you.
Ed, I thought of you as I stood in the lobby looking at Cone family documents and artifacts.
I'm still hoping you'll write that book about the Cones in Greensboro.
Oh, and Sue -- my parents remember the quarantine sign on the door, too. My mom had rheumatic fever in the late 30s and was bedridden for months.
That's great news, David. Rooting for Maddie, and for you. Make sure the saccharin sweetness of the Swayze movies doesn't work to counteract the penicillin.
'Cause you know, nobody puts baby in a corner.
I suppose it's too much hoping it's Roadhouse rather than Dirty Dancing, huh?
Yes, too much. Dirty Dancing (Special Edition!) it was.
I saw Roadhouse for the first time only a few weeks ago. What a wonderful, gelled-mullets, 80's confection it is!
But there's a bit too much gratuitous nekkidnes in it for my teenaged daughter.
Well, perhaps the TBS version then. You can usually catch it on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and every other week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Sundays are reserved for Ghost I believe.
Now admit it. There was a little moisture between forehead and nose when Sam Elliott was rolled over on the bar with that knife in his gut.
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