Yesterday, we celebrated Christmas with my side of the family. Several traveled about five hours to be together. We had a wonderful time, but it almost didn’t happen.
Earlier in the month, I posted a blog about how difficult it was to choose between caring for Lynn and helping out my daughter, who was sick and whose baby was very sick. After reading that post, my loving, self-sacrificing, 80-year-old parents jumped in their car and drove five hours to help her out so I would stop worrying about her. (See where I get my caregiving tendencies?) Having them here was such a relief so I knew Sarah could get some much-needed rest. They kept the baby at my house, and I could help from across the room or up close if I was careful to stay away from his little contagious face.
My parents needed to get home for some things previously planned, so they left early Friday morning of that week (two Fridays ago). A few hours after they left, my daughter sent me a text, “Do you have a spare stethoscope? I think Eli is wheezing.” Though I didn’t have a spare, I immediately took what I had and checked his breathing. In doing so, I walked into the city but took the risk because I was worried about the baby. I’m glad I did because he was certainly wheezing and ended up in the emergency department a few hours later to get breathing treatments. After that, I stayed away from them, but it was too late–the alien invader cold virus breached my armor and attacked me. I now have a horrible cold, and I’m miserable…and feeling guilty and worried.
Several other family members had also been sick last week with colds, and one developed an intestinal illness, which was a new bug to throw into the mix. We almost postponed the family get-together, but by yesterday morning, most were feeling better, so we decided to have a “no-touch” celebration. Honestly, I think I was the sickest one there so I hope no one gets sick from me! We occasionally forgot and gave a hug, but for the most part, we did not touch. Since the baby had finally gotten better, the only ones who could touch him were his parents and me (other than my parents, who had no symptoms of illness and had already been exposed to him), which was disappointing for the others. I was ill, but from the baby sharing his germs, he could not be re-infected from me.
As I sit here now, sneezing almost continuously, my biggest fear is Lynn. I can’t help but share these germs with him. I’ve washed my hands till they are cracked from dryness. I put a towel over my shoulder when I have to move him to keep his face away from my clothes. I turn away when I cough and sneeze but he’s living in my germs. I give him Zicam around the clock. However, I fear it’s just a matter of time before he is sick. He said his throat was a little sore this morning, and his use of nose spray has started to increase.
Everyone hates to get a cold and hates the miserable symptoms that cause sore noses, difficulty sleeping, and other unattractive and inconvenient maladies. However, for a person with MS, it carries even greater concerns. MS is considered an autoimmune disease because the immune system in an MS patient is “confused.” While in the lives of a person who does not have an autoimmune condition, T-cells and other infection-fighting agents are good guys, in a person with MS, they are traitors. Instead of helping the body, they attack it. Think of it this way…
Two little countries are located side by side and hate each other passionately. Both countries train their soldiers to attack and destroy any soldier from the opposing country on sight. The two country’s inhabitants have unique skin colors. Country-A inhabitants have yellow skin, and Country-B has green. Finances are an issue for one year and Country-B is low on resources. They devised the strategy to put a blueing ingredient in the water of Country-A. The next morning when Country-A wakes up, everyone who has had water to drink at night has turned green. The rest of the “yellow” inhabitants think they have been invaded and begin to attack and kill the “green” invaders. Thus, they destroy themselves, and Country-B gains control.
Something similar happens in MS. The person’s immune system senses danger and attacks itself, so when a new infection is introduced, the body produces more “defenders.” These new defenders not only attack the invaders but also the person’s own body. That makes the individual susceptible to having an exacerbation and developing new MS problems.
That happened to Lynn two years ago. He got a bladder infection that was not treated correctly. He lost his desire to eat, and his body’s inefficiency to fight the infection led to him being hospitalized. Once he was hospitalized, he developed pneumonia due to an accidental aspiration from the feeding tube he had, and between the two infections (respiratory and urinary), his body engaged in WWIII tactics, which nearly cost him his life. He has just now gotten back almost to his pre-hospitalization level but still has a way to go even now. Before hospitalization, he had better balance, could use both hands, and had voluntary control of urination. Now, he has no or limited ability in these areas.
So, I wait to see if my cold leads to an illness in his body. I’m also concerned because he currently has a stage III skin breakdown on his right buttock. Therefore, his body is already under attack trying to repair the skin damage. I fear that adding in the defense of a cold will be overwhelming.
I’ll have to wait and see and ask for prayers of defense. I know if he gets sick, he will need prayer support, and so will I. (He becomes even needier when he doesn’t feel well and I’m already on overload from that front as it is!)
On a more pleasant note, I look forward to two more family events this coming week and one next week for New Year’s Eve if he isn’t sick.
In closing, I wish you and your family a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and God’s blessings on your new year!
