SO Cool, SO Sweet!

As the flu season gets underway and is heightened with added concerns due to H1N1, Dr. Bayer told us nearly two weeks ago that the swine flu would likely be deadly in Cathy’s immuno-suppressed state. Since Hope daily invades the germ-pool we know as High School and since her oral fixation makes her an even greater candidate to contract the nasty stuff, Cathy and I have debated getting the vaccination for Hope. She has the greatest likelihood in our family of getting the flu and would pose the greatest difficulty to care for and keep Cathy from contracting it

• past vaccinations have been difficult for Hope and other Angelman Syndrome patients. Do we gamble with possible complications from the vaccination or near certain extreme difficulties in the event Hope contracts the H1N1 flu?


• we had not considered getting the vaccination for Cathy as we were under the impression she couldn't get it in her compromised state
  

Well, on 10/22 it turns out Dr. Bayer informed Cathy that she CAN and should get the vaccine. We also decided Hope would be better served by getting the vaccine than the possible consequences if she didn't.

This is where it gets REAL SWEET AND REAL COOL:

1. As difficult as it is to secure the vaccine with demand outstripping supply, Carol Casey requested that Mrs. and Dr. Erickson seek to get two of the shots for my girls


2. Dr. Erickson solicited the assistance of a Vice President of our local hospital to assist in the hunt.


3. Cathy has a limited window between and before her weekly chemotherapies


4. On Tuesday evening, 10/27, thanks to the assistance of these aforementioned saints, Dr. Erickson administered the shots in our home on the last day before Cathy would have to wait for at least 4 more days!

More reasons for praise and two less reasons for substantial concern. Is this not SO cool and SO sweet. Like manna provided for each new day. "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3: 22-24. Perhaps I should end after this glorious scripture, but I must make one cogent observation: Can anyone imagine this type of loving, sacrificial and extremely timely medical care in the future if any currently proposed form of health care reform goes through?