That statement could be agreed on between complete strangers without any context given. It truly has been; Schools, sporting events, and public events all canceled or postponed. Recommendations to avoid public events, not to buy too much toilet paper, and stock market updates take up all the headline spaces.
All that aside, I would still be sitting on this hospital couch, while my son Ethan sleeps in the bed beside me, writing this message saying, "What a week!"
Before getting into the events of this week, this all starts back in December when we went for routine medical check-ups due to our staying in Angola the last few years. Part of that appointment was to receive TB skin tests to check for tuberculosis. Upon receiving results of that test, Ethan's came back positive. After a series of other checks, tests, x-rays, etc. it was initially determined that it was "latent TB" which is a form of TB that is sleeping, for lack of a better description. We could carry on as normal, but would have to get Ethan on a form of treatment or risk the sleeping TB "waking up" much later on in life if he ever became immuno-compromised. In the meantime, he had ZERO symptoms--he was running around happy, healthy, and well.
After various clinic visits and a string of referrals until we got to the right person, Kelly took Ethan to see the infectious diseases doctor last week Friday (March 6). It was supposed to be an appointment to get a prescription and we would be on our way... or so we thought. It had been a couple months since the latest x-ray and the doctor wasn't satisfied, so another was done. Upon reviewing that, they found a suspicious spot on his lung and said they would have to admit Ethan as the latent TB was not latent, but potentially active.
That brings us to "What a week!"
Over the past 9 days, Ethan has been in an isolation room at the hospital with myself, Kelly, Aunt Erie, or one of his Grandparents providing round the clock care for him...
***Before you jump to conclusions about the possibility of being infected, no, you don't have to worry if you or your child got infected while playing with him these last few months.***
... in a pretty special room. You can tell it is an isolation room by a few details: Double doors to enter. Reverse flow climate control so no airborne matter is spread through other parts of the hospital. Every nurse and doctor that enters goes to extreme caution with aprons gloves and masks. No "hospital sounds" in the background because we're too far away, which is a positive except that it took until day 5 before I realized there was a Ronald McDonald House setup for families to get away for a while, eat breakfast, have a coffee, or take a shower. An amazing, and much needed service.
It's a strange feeling being in such good care, with such over the top safety measures in place, with a patient who is experiencing ZERO symptoms, and except the findings on an x-ray, is feeling completely normal.
Ethan has been incredible through the whole thing. Never once asking why he's here, or when he can go home, or where is Mommy? Kelly can come for brief visits ONLY due to the younger boys unable to be in contact with Ethan, and so she has to return to them, specifically our 6-week-old. The first night here involved various tests and a CT scan which set the tone for how he now looks at doctors and nurses, but thankfully those are behind us. He also knows that there's lots of chocolate milk and Paw Patrol if he's good.
It certainly did my mind good getting out of here for a while. It's a strange thing when you read headlines about what's going on in the world from an isolation room. "Is it really that bad out there?" "Should I just stay in here?!?" Glad I wasn't quite getting to the point of thinking that seriously, but global pandemic stuff isn't fun to read about from here. This morning I was reading from Romans 8:18-30 which is a great encouragement in times like these. Often times our deepest concerns are with safety or good health. Is that really what we are to strive for? Where I am right now is possibly the safest place for any toilet-paper-hoarder out there who is afraid of catching a virus, and I think even that person would say an isolation room in a hospital is no place to desire. A friend once told me something profound enough that I wrote it down. He said "You are never immune to danger, but you are safe when you are in the center of God's will". I believe that living in tune with God's will for our lives is truly the best place to be, and it never was meant to be in isolation.
Tomorrow it sounds like we will all be able to go home, Lord willing. A big thank you to family who has taken shifts so that I could go home for a few hours each day. To friends who have stopped by to visit with us and brighten Ethan's day. To all who have prayed for us during this time.
What a hope we have then, that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Marcel
I have always had a positive reaction to a tb skin test. As did my father.Upon further investigation after the first time,neither of us even had tb active latent or otherwise. Just one of those weird unexplainable things in our case. So very happy that Ethan has been treated against future issues so the latent form will not cause him sickness in the future. Continually amazed and in awe of you and Kelly's strength. You have faced and stood steadfast thru some times that would put many people under.
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