It was the night that Mr. Handsome and I had set aside to celebrate our anniversary. My mom was going to watch Little Buddy, and we had reservations at a nice restaurant. I had curled my hair, and we were both wearing our fancy clothes.
As we were preparing to walk out the door, I noticed that Little Buddy’s face seemed warm. He had been playing outside in the shade with Grandma, and even though it was a fairly hot day, he had come in several times for a drink of water. Just to be on the safe side, I took his temperature: 104.4. We called his doctor’s office, and they advised us to go to the pediatric emergency room.
So instead of leaving on our hot date, we frantically changed our clothes, grabbed Little Buddy’s diaper bag, and headed to the ER. There were only a few other patients there, and since it was a separate pediatric ER, it was a very comfortable atmosphere.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, only one parent was able to be with Little Buddy at a time, so we took turns while the other waited outside. Thankfully, it was a beautiful evening for pacing outside the hospital entrance.
The doctor went above and beyond to keep both of us informed of what was going on. Even though Nashville is a big city, it felt like a small town hospital. After asking a few questions, she recommended that we do a nose swab to rule out COVID-19 and a number of other common viruses. Little Buddy’s throat, nose, breathing, and heartbeat were all normal, so she expected the tests to be negative, which they were.
Based on his high fever, the doctor was concerned that he might have an illness caused by a tick bite. Such illnesses are considered rare, but in Tennessee, she sees them frequently during the summer months. And she has seen patients test positive who have claimed that there was no possibility that they were ever bitten by a tick. Like most kids, Little Buddy enjoys playing outside, but we have our yard treated regularly with a natural tick and mosquito spray.
Unfortunately, we were never able to complete the test. The nurses tried to draw blood, but after 30 minutes of poking and prodding, they gave up. Poor Little Buddy was upset by the experience, but I would say that he did very well under the circumstances. We were sent home with antibiotics to treat the possible tick-borne illness. The results would have taken three days to come back anyways, so they would have started the antibiotics regardless.
Little Buddy’s fever disappeared less than two days later. His only other symptom was a few areas of red dots on his torso, which soon went away. Due to the timing of his MMR shot, we have been told that there is also a possibility that that was the cause of the episode. We are very grateful that he is back to his normal self. When we asked the doctor if there is anything we can do in the future to prevent tick bites, she encouraged us to use a natural bug spray, which we do. She said that it’s risky to use bug spray containing DEET too frequently, which is something that I also agree with.
Kris W.
Anything involving your child being sick like that is such a frightening experience, and especially when they are so little! I’m so glad to hear that he’s doing better, and I know how thankful and relieved you must be. Belated happy anniversary wishes to you and Mr. Handsome!
Ellie
Thank you, Kris!
Anonymous
You’ll probably get a bunch of comments from the anti-vaxers, but I’m not one of them. Glad you’re doing immunizations. Two days of fever is better than having M, M, or R. I’ve had all 3. I’ve even tested positive for Lyme. Glad LB is on the mend.
Ellie
Wow, that’s crazy that you’ve had all 3 illnesses. And Lyme. How did they treat your Lyme?
Ellie
Anonymous
Anyone born in the 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s probably had all 3 of those, plus chicken pox, plus whooping cough, plus every other disease that ever floated around a school or a household! People born before that had to deal with polio, diptheria, and smallpox, just to name a few. Vaccines have saved countless lives and have done more good than harm. Others will disagree, but look how the world is pinning their hopes on a Covid vaccine right now.
Anon
But by the time a vaccine for COVID around then itāll be off because the sickness will mutate to something a little different, just like the flu does.
Anonymous
Right now, this coronavirus seems fairly stable, meaning mutations are not quickly happening. That’s in the favor of those trying to develop vaccines. The big question is how long immunity lasts after recovery from an infection or from a potential vaccine. Still, any immunity from a vaccination is better than no immunity. Sometimes having a flu vaccine, even if it’s a little “off” does help your body recognize that type of invader and be primed to mount a response.
Lisa
Why couldn’t they draw blood? So glad he is better.
Ellie
They said it was because he is chunky (although he’s not really THAT chunky), but I think the nurses were also a bit inexperienced.
Anonymous
Most kids have chunky arms and legs at that age. Hard to believe a pediatric ER doesn’t know how to deal with “baby rolls.” Thirty minutes of prodding and trying while you’re running a high fever sounds like torture. I would have been asking for a supervisor, a doctor, a phlebotomist, someone. I had to have an IV before a procedure once and after 2 nurses tried several times unsuccessfully, I said that’s IT – please get someone who can do this before I end up one giant bruised vein, which they did. I didn’t make any friends at the hospital that day, but too bad. Being a human pincushion is no fun and I was on the verge of passing out, between no food/water and all those failed attempts!! I can’t believe your little guy had to endure all that, and no way to communicate fear or frustration other than to cry. As a mom, I would have been crying too!
Anonymous
Wow! You were seriously going to go to a restaurant with all that’s going on with COVID-19?! I have family in TN and he said that numbers have been surging. I’m in NJ and our governor reversed course on reopening indoor dining this week, because he feels that it’s not safe yet. Even if he had gone ahead with the opening, I’m in no rush to go back to a restaurant or gym anytime soon. We crushed the curve in NJ and do not want our numbers to go back up again, as we were initially a hotspot. On a different note, I’m glad your son is OK. That must have been terrifying!
Anonymous
Maybe they were planning on eating outside?
Anon
Naw, we go eat out here in TN. So far so good. And especially a anniversary? Why I would in a heartbeat. Theyāre healthy and young, let them go enjoy a restaurant meal. All the young ones here, if they get COVID, get a slight fever, little headache for a couple days and then theyāre done. You do have to understand the government is jinxing some of those numbers.
Anonymous
You don’t need to go to a restaurant to celebrate during a global pandemic. Make a nice meal at home or get takeout! Also, people in their 30s and 40s with no pre-existing conditions have died or gotten extremely ill! Try telling their families and the medical professionals that care for COVID patients that young people only get “a little headache!”
Anonymous
@4:56 Anon – Then I don’t know how you explain all the deaths among young people. Aren’t you hearing about them? People in their 20’s and 30’s, people in excellent health otherwise, athletes – Covid is killing them too.
Anonymous
I live in Tennessee and go to the stores and restaurants and am not concerned about Covid at all. People are getting milder cases of it now except those coming from Mexico. My parents who are close to 70 recently had it, and they were not very sick at all. My whole family was exposed and none of the rest of us caught it. We have several friends in another state who are over 70 that have it right now and none of them are seriously ill.
Anonymous
It is safe to say you are vey lucky. However, you and your family are not taking this seriously. Hospitals are filling up and at this rate, we won’t have hospital beds for all the sick. Masks, social distancing, and common sense go a long way!
Anonymous
If you say following China (what China did and is doing during the pandemic) is common sense, go have it! (That is exactly what America is doing- and look at all the deaths wow)
Anonymous
Not sure I’m reading your post correctly (above) but you know China physically locked down cities to slow the spread, and it worked. Americans wouldn’t stand for that. They have to have their pool parties and go to bars and have megachurch services, all while refusing to wear masks. The case numbers are soaring because of that willful stubbornness.
Anonymous
Everyone around where I live are going back to our regular life now. We have been eating out, shopping, having birthday parties together, celebrations together. The corona virus has been hyped up in some areas until where it is like a religion to some people. We are all doing fine both in our home, families and workplaces. No deaths, some have caught it and got over it with no oroblems. Recovery rate of 99.8-9 is no reason to keep yourself isolated. More children died from the flu by a long shot compared to any child who died from this so we want our schools to open up now, with all the facts laid out we know that unless you have a severe underlining condition you would take precautions with this the same way you would with a flu. As long as you play along with the fear mongering folks, they will keep you hidden, afraid and in some cases bankruot, so come on out folks, join the real world, life is too short to live in hyped up fear.
Anonymous
You must live in a protected bubble or in the middle of nowhere. Nobody I know is back to “regular” life. The case numbers are climbing by the hour. My local area has close to 7000 known cases and is gaining about 200 more daily right now. The 99% recovery rate is incorrect. That number is currently 91% at most – check the sites that are keeping real-time track. Ask any doctor or nurse if this virus is hyped up. Ask them what they think about restaurants and bars and birthday parties. Ask them how full their ICU beds are with people who thought it was OK to gather with others and swore they’d “never” catch this. Ask them how many deaths they’ve seen in people who had no underlying conditions. The reality of this virus is beyond heartbreaking!
Anonymous
This is not hyped up fear when over 130,000 people have died. If you truly believe it is hyper up, talk to their family members. I suggest talking to families where both parents have died and now these children have no parents. Everyone either is an expert in constitutional law or a doctor now and repeat what they hear about sheep, civil liberties, or bad data. Instead of repeating what is said on TV or the internet, do the research and examine the data and then make a conclusion. This is not a game. No one would be bankrupt if they saved some money for a rainy day instead of spending every cent they have on useless things, etc. I’m not sure where you live, but I hope the numbers in cases or deaths do not increase because of recklessness.
Anonymous
1:37
People like you are why the U.S. has the highest number of COVID cases in the world. This is going to sound harsh, but you come across as very selfish and misinformed in your post. This virus is a public health crisis, it is not a hype or some Democratic conspiracy. The people you know who had it should consider themselves extremely lucky that they did not die or end up with permanent health issues. I haven’t gone out to eat or seen my friends or extended family since February. Somedays I wonder if I’ll ever see them again, but social distancing saves lives. My birthday was during the lockdown in my state and I did not have a party and lived to tell about it. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good. That’s what being an American is about.
Anonymous
Hold on here people!! First of all my husband and I along with our friends and family are out here working 8-10 hours a day and have been through this whole “pandemic”. So you get to hide out in your houses and tell us we are wrong by being in public?, socializing, shopping, getting together with love ones when we are in public working with in some cases hundreds of factory workers, shoppers, restaurant workers etc. We are on the front lines in this and we have no reason to lie when we see first hand how the media has lied and hyped up this “pandemic”. The only reason you get to willingly hide is because we are out here holding everything up in this society. Until you get out here and put in some work and see what is really going on, then don’t sit there and tell me how insensitive, uncaring us working people and socializing people are. Sheesh the nerve!!!
Anonymous
I’m 11:55. Working is very different from socializing. You cannot remotely compare the two. I’ve been back at work in-person since June 22. My co-workers and I wear masks all day except for when we are eating. None of us have any plans to travel long distances, work out in a gym, or go to restaurants anytime soon. We also have not been seeing extended family or having parties. Want to know why? Because if we’re sick, we can’t work! Also, most people have not been “hiding out in their houses.” They’ve been WORKING from home!
Anonymous
What exactly do you and your husband do that you are working 8 to 10 hours a day? You are an essential worker, but not in the medical field. Do you wear a mask? Stay 6 feet away from others? Yes, you do sound selfish and your response didn’t help either. You offer no real scientific proof nor references to check, but ask everyone to believe you. Where do you live? What are the number of positive covid patients? How many people have died from the virus? What is the occupancy rate of the hospitals in your area? Will you be sending your kids to school if it opens in the fall? Lastly, if you truly believe this is a hyped up pandemic, have you offered to volunter in a hospital that needs help due to the increase in hospiralized sick patients? I can’t wait until we are able to live our normal lives, but until then, I will do everything I need to do to keep my family and I safe.
Debie
I am glad to hear he is doing better. High temperatures is something not to mess with. Smart move to take him to the E.R. Good ole mother instinct kicked in when you said he looked a little warm
Ellie
Thanks, Debbie. Those motherly instincts are definitely real!
Marilyn
So glad Little Buddy is doing okay now. What a scare for you and Mr. Handsome. Hope you can celebrate your anniversary another day. God Bless.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Ellie
Thank you, ladies. š
Anonymous
Happy Anniversary!!
Ellie
Thank you!
Regina Shea
What a scary experience for you two! I’m glad your little man is okay. I hope you and Mr. H were eventually able to have your date.
Ellie
Thank you, Regina. We were able to go out a couple days later. Just for burgers because we didn’t want to leave Little Buddy for too long, but it was still nice.
Mom of three
The first thing that I thought was that he was severely dehydrated. It’s difficult to draw blood when a person is dehydrated and fever can also accompany dehydration. I’m glad he’s feeling better and sorry that you missed your anniversary date. Hopefully you have made it up or will some time soon.
Ellie
I was thinking that, too, although the nurses didn’t mention it. He drank quite a bit that day, but the fever was pretty high. Definitely possible! Thank you for the well wishes. š
Karen
It also could have been something called “Three Day Fever” or “Roseola infantum” (caused by a virus). My son had exactly the same symptoms at exactly this time of year and we had wanted to travel to a wedding! Needless to say the wedding went on without us. Our pediatrician (here in Germany) recognized it right away and recommended we stay home. Other than fever medication and lots of fluids, I don’t think we gave him anything. (Antibiotics don’t work on viruses.) Our son was fine except for the high fever and rash and that was gone after three days. I hope Little Buddy is healthy again.
Ellie
Thank you, Karen! I’ll have to look into that. Glad you said something. I’m surprised the doctor didn’t mention it.
Karen
I hope I was able to help.
Jean
I thought of Roseola right away. It is sometimes called “baby measles”.
Anonymous
Sounds like three-days fever to me, too. This is a very common disease in young children. Most children have fever for about three days and you can’t find a reason for it until the rash appears on day 3 or 4 and the fever is gone. My son had it at 8 months and he had spots everywhere for about a week, but with most children it will disappear after only a day.
I am a pediatrician myself, working in NICU and sometimes ER, too. I know it can be really hard to get blood or an IV in children, especially at that age. So sometimes you have to decide if you really really need it or find another solution… I am sure they did they did their best to help your little Buddy!
Do you know the name of that tick-borne disease they wanted to test? Just curious, because here in Germany we don’t regularly test for tick diseases when children have “only” fever and no other symptoms. But I know they can carry different diseases in other parts of the world…
Ellie
Thank you very much for sharing your input! I very much appreciate it. The tick illness was Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Anonymous
I started to read your post and became worried, after I finished I sat and thank god that your Little Buddy was okay.
Ellie
You are very sweet. Thank you!
Anonymous
I am glad Little Buddy is ok! When my daughter was 4, she was running a low-grade fever, so I just gave her some Tylenol, put her in the tub with cool water and gave her a popsicle. After a while, she was wanting to get out, so I took her temp, and it had come down. I dried her off, and soon as I put her pjs on, she went into convulsions. Her father and I jumped into the car to go to the er, and on the way she started turning blue. I had to do some panicky, didn’t know how, breathing for her. She was packed in ice for an hour to bring her temp down. I can’t remember what her illness was. My suggestion, don’t change clothes, just GO! I can’t remember her exact temp but it was over 104.
Anonymous
Poor kiddo! And poor mom and dad! Must have been scary. I’ll echo another commenter that I’m glad you’re vaccinating, though! I was listening to a radio story the other day in which a pediatrician said childhood vaccinations are down 60% from this time last year, likely because parents are afraid to bring their children to the doctors. 60%!!! That’s insane. They’re terrified that we will soon be seeing a resurgence in deadly vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses. I wish everyone would put a little more trust in medical professionals right now.
Anon
Trust? When theyāre aim is to make money off of you because of all the side symptoms associated with vax, medications, etc.? No thankyou!!!!
Anonymous
Can you refer me to the research that backs up your claims? I’d love to be able to verify your claims. As a scientist I’ve been taught to verify and not to believe something at face value.
Anonymous
If doctors truly wanted to “make money off you” then they would not vaccinate. They’d let you get sick, so they could bill you for treatment afterwards. If you survived.
Anonymous
Iām thinking it could have been roseola too. My children are grown now, but I remember those days of illness when you are so worried. Itās such a relief when your child recovers. I tease my grown children now by telling them that all the gray hair I have is from all those years of āmom worryā.
Iris
Wow, after your Valentine’s day date was ruined by another medical emergency, that’s so sad that you have been missing on special dates this year!
I’m glad your son is ok – that’s really what matters.
Ellyn
How scary! I’m so glad he’s OK!
My son got an unexplainable super high fever when he was about 10 months old. The only thing the doctor thought it could be was a random virus so they put him on antivirals, and he got better very soon after that.
It is truly scary to see your young one so sick! Hugs mama!
Anonymous
That must have been very scary for you and your husband, although I think it’s scary when any parent has to take their child to the emergency room regardless of age. However, it is worse when they’re younger and can’t communicate well. I’m so glad your little boy is okay. If you don’t mind my asking, how many years have you and your husband been married? I’m sorry if that is a personal question, but I’m just curious.
Anonymous
Do you have any clue about where he could have picked up a virus? Are you all staying home? Seems unusual that he’d get sick when people are trying to stay away from others and stay clean. Sounds like it could have been shot related for sure. Did you go to a pediatrician’s office for that, and did you feel maybe that was a risk? I need doctor and dentist appointments but don’t want to go near those places right now.
Ellie
I know, I would be surprised if he had picked up a virus. We’ve been very careful to stay away from people and to use hand sanitizer when out in public. And the few people we have been around would have told us if they had come down with something. Although anything is possible.
Anonymous
Hand sanitizer is of limited use if virus particles are in the air you’re breathing. Is your DH coming in contact with patients or is the dental practice shut? (Not talking about a rash virus, but viruses in general)
Ann
I glad Little Buddy is doing better.
They did say people between 13 and 45 can get the Covid.19. 2 kids that were in my nephew’s class were test for the virus because their brother got it.
That’s why I won’t or go to restaurants or order food in because those people work their could have the virus and they don’t know it.
Anonymous
People from newborn up can get the virus. There’s no age limit on either end. The Millennials who are partying, the people who are acting like nothing is happening (they think the virus overblown and they aren’t going to get it!), and the people who won’t wear masks infuriate me. They’re prolonging this emergency and putting EVERYONE at risk. I’m not paying with MY health or life for THEIR bad judgement!!!! If I had any doubts that Americans were stubborn and uncooperative, those doubts have been erased by watching the public’s deplorable actions in this pandemic. I’m not talking about health care workers or first responders. I’m talking about the people who storm into Wal-Mart past the mask sign, which they think “doesn’t apply” to them. I’m talking about the ones packing the beaches and bars. There are the new cases.
Ann, you’re smart to stay out of restaurants. Social distancing is not working. Look at the case numbers and hospitalization numbers. They’ve soared after places opened up. The virus is in the air indoors. You can’t put 6′ between you and the air. Wait til schools reopen. We are sunk.
Anonymous
Sounds like you live in a lot of fear.
Anonymous
There is such thing as a healthy amount of fear. I, and many others, are living in too much fear right now, because others are not afraid enough. If everyone took this seriously and took the precautions experts are recommending, we could all go about our lives almost normally without being too afraid. But since so many are not, those of us who are not living in denial are living in fear.
Anonymous
One of my friends is a miraculous heart transplant survivor. Another has MS. Both are on drugs that suppress their immune systems. Neither one of them wants to catch this virus. Should I tell them that they sound like they’re “living in a lot of fear”? Is it really that hard to understand why nobody wants this virus?
Anonymous
Maybe in the future your little buddy will take a rain check on some of his plans to be there for you when you need him.
Beth Ann Lombardi
Maybe I can offer some help. You wrote, “His only other symptom was a few areas of red dots on his torso, which soon went away. Due to the timing of his MMR shot, we have been told that there is also a possibility that that was the cause of the episode.” My son experienced exactly what you described in your article, we got the blood work done in the ER, and we were told he was reacting to the MMR shot. Just as you described, his symptoms went away on their own. He did not react this way to his second MMR shot! God bless you all. I believe the Lord led me to read this today; I just found you online. We’re praying for you and sending love.
Ellie
Thank you so much for sharing that, Beth Ann. That is very helpful. Has he had reactions to any other shots?
Ellie
Beth Ann
You’re welcome. Your experience was so similar to ours that I wanted to reach out. You’re very brave to tackle social media! (I’m not!) My son also reacted to a tetnus shot, and after three days of fever, pain, fatigue and stiffness that kept him in bed, we were advised not to have another tetnus shot. However, as I said, he did not have a bad reaction to his second (which was his last) MMR. He is a very healthy young man now, for which I am grateful to God.