This Mom's Plea, Asking Parents To Keep Their Sick Kids Home, Is Quite Reasonable

Oct 18, 2018 by apost team

Courtney Hayes, a mother from Arizona, shared an important message this cold and flu season to parents out there: If you have a sick child, keep them home.

Don’t send them to daycare, public parks, or school. They are actively spreading germs. There are many people out there who can’t fight off the same illness as easily.

They are at risk every time they come into contact with someone who has a virus. Hayes’ son, Jude, is one of those people. He has a compromised immune system that doesn’t allow him to fight off that virus on his own.

His heart is compromised as well. Even just a simple common cold could be life or death for him. His mom stated that they do what they can to build up Jude’s immune system such as antibody shots, isolating him during the flu season, putting masks on when others are sick, and thouroughly washing hands.

They also don’t wear shoes in the house and use essential oils and vitamins. They go through sanitizing wipes like crazy.

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They realize it is their job and no one else’s to keep him protected. However, they appreciate the consideration of friends and family. With that said, they are struggling right now with a nasty cold. While this doesn’t sound like much for a normal kid, it is not good for Jude.

They had just gotten through one cold when another hit. And it hit hard. It is strong and relentless.

How did Jude get this cold? He went to a children’s museum. His parents thought it would be fun for him, just like it would be for most kids. He would be able to play with other kids, learn, and grow. They washed his hands the whole time they were there. They didn’t let him get too close to other kids. But then something happened that they couldn’t prevent. A girl walked up to Jude and wanted to play. His mom thought it was so sweet.

Suddenly, she coughed in Jude’s face. Both Courtney and her husband Josh were horrified. They didn’t want to offend her parents but they needed to get Jude away. But it wasn’t soon enough. Just two days later, Jude had the same wet and horrible cough the little girl had.

While Courtney knows that Jude might have gotten the cold from someone or somewhere else. But this does not comfort her when she is holding him crying at night, screaming in pain. The only thing going through her mind is why the little girl’s parents took her out when she was sick.

She now wishes she hadn’t taken Jude to have fun. But she can’t help but wonder why he can’t have fun like everyone else.

Courtney realizes that sick kids can’t always stay inside. There are things that have to be done and sometimes kids have to be taken with. However, there are activities that are completely optional.

Things like the museum, the park, pool, the zoo, restaurants, and much more can be completely avoided. It can easily be put off for a few days until you can take a healthy child.

Kids get sick and this is normal. But for a kid who doesn’t have a normal immune system, a cold isn’t just a common cold. If possible, don’t take your kids out in public especially option activities.

Courtney hopes that parents will think twice about taking a sick child out. Most activities can wait until they are no longer sick.

She hopes that parents will join together to protect the medically complex children out there. They have already been through hell in their life and they just want to have fun like every other kid. If they could just wait until the cold is gone, it would help so many children out there.

She isn’t blaming anyone for her son getting sick. But she wants to spread awareness for children like her son. He isn’t the only child with a compromised immune system. The pool isn’t going anywhere, the park isn’t going anywhere, and the children’s museum isn’t going anywhere.

Your sick child can wait a few days to go enjoy those things. She wants to let parents know she appreciates when they keep their sick kids home.

What do you think about Courney’s plea? Will it make you think twice about taking your sick kid out? Let us know what you think.