Re: Compromised immune systems?- Maggie

[Guest guest]

Hi Maggie,

I don't know that our kids have a compromised immune system so much as they

just don't have anything extra to fight with. 's first year was a

nightmare as far as illness went! Suspected rotavirus almost did him in, and

an RSV infection had him on a vent for 3.5 weeks, in the PICU for 4.5 weeks,

and a total of hospital stay of 5.5 weeks!

We were told to keep him away from the public in general, other children

specifically, to never use store carts, and to keep disinfectant with us

always! We made prior arrangements with our Ped when Bran was younger, that

if we needed a visit, Bran NEVER sat in the waiting room. He was always

taken in the back way, and put directly in a room.

I use a 10% bleach solution to clean all of his " water-safe " toys, to wipe

down his bed, to clean his high chair after each use, etc... I invested in a

large quantity of Clorox Clean-up wipes, and use them on every surface I

can, door knobs, door moldings, faucet handles, telephones, etc.... We never

eat " in " fast food restaurants, and Bran has never been allowed to play in

any of their play yards. And, of course, our hands are perpetually dry and

cracking from all the washing!

All of these precautions eventually paid off, and Bran started gaining

weight, and doing much better, but we're still careful (old habits are hard

to break).

Hope this helps.

Pat (g-ma to , RSS, 4yrs 1m old, 28# 10oz, 35 " , G-tube, GHT)