A few months ago, my youngest son, Miguel, was stricken with Kawasaki disease. Unknown to the general public, this occurs on children ages 1-7. But Migsy is only 2months old then. So what gives?
Naturally, if you have a baby who’s only 2 months with an illness you haven’t heard, know or dreamt about, you would be hysterical as I was. The hubby and I didn’t know what to do. It looked like measles, but again said the doctor, he was too young.
According to good ‘ole Webster,
- Main Entry:
- Ka·wa·sa·ki disease
- Pronunciation:
- \ˌkä-wə-ˈsä-kē-\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Tomisaku Kawasaki b1925 Japanese pediatrician
- Date:
- 1977
: an acute illness of unknown cause that chiefly affects infants and children and is characterized especially by fever, rash, conjunctivitis, inflammation of lips and tongue, and swollen lymph nodes of the neck —called also Kawasaki syndrome
So there.
Now, as a mother who earns only enough for her family to eat, (Don’t ask about the hubby… he works for the government, as a contractual… ’nuff said) it wasn’t particularly pleasant to hear the word EXPENSIVE. But what to do when your youngest son is obviously in pain and restless? Take out all your savings, ask/loan money from everyone you know and sell everything you own. Exactly what I did.
Eventually, after shelling out all our cash (from savings, loans and whatnots), he got better. He’s still on heart meds (yes, the disease will, if not treated, affect the heart) until the 72nd day.
So what’s the point of this blog anyway? It’s for the mothers, the fathers and all with loved ones, to take special precautions. This disease is of unknown cause so I guess the only advise to give is SAVE UP and you’ll be okay.
