A big shout-out to the makers of Synagis, the RSV vaccine. Also a huge thanks to the insurance company that is currently paying for this very expensive vaccine for my Little Joey!
Because of his CHD (Congenital Heart Disease) Joey is blacklisted from getting serious respiratory illness. It just isn't allowed. A pneumonia or RSV infection would very likely land him right back in the ICU, with potentially complicated treatment. Thanks to advancements in modern medical research, however, he is now receiving a once-a-month "vaccine" against RSV, and it seems to be doing it's job well!
We were at the pediatrician's office last week with our hacking coughing little man, who we discovered had bilateral ear infections. While there the doc mentioned that his symptoms were presenting like the very frequent cases of RSV he's seen this winter, but thankfully it does not seem to be affecting our Joey poorly at all! Joey is coughing a lot and breathing fast (tachypnea) but is in no distress and his *little* self is handling it quite well! Praise God!
If he did have it, it was so mild as to not be the cause of any concern. This is great, because he has other things to be doing than sitting back in the hospital :)
What Kate didn't mention is that his next oldest cousin and best (male) play buddy DID have RSV last week...cause for an emergent Sunday visit to the same pediatrician. He was wheezing like an 80-year old smoker. I am truely grateful for the RSV vaccine that Joey receives...he has lots of cousins and siblings that love all over him and sometimes all those hugs and kisses (and tackles) can be a little bit germy!
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