For anyone who knows me I normally do not stress easy or have major anxiety over things. I save all of that for Rick, cause if you know Rick then you know he stresses over everything, EVERYTHING. However, with what is going on in the world around us I am very scared and I am absolutely taking all proper precautions seriously. I have one important reason to stress though, Olivia!
Not going to lie, I am actually starting to have some PTSD over everything that is happening, as we already had to keep our girls quarantined and safe after we brought them home from the hospital. I lived in constant fear of keeping them healthy and free of illness because something as little as the common cold could send them back to the hospital. After everything they went through in the NICU, I couldn’t fathom them having to go back to the hospital. Now here we are over 5 years later, and I am scared to death of Olivia contracting the Coronavirus. Something that if she did get, could be a very-very dangerous situation.
I know that many people believe that only the elderly are susceptible to more serious cases, but so are those who have compromised immune systems. So for those who are not taking this current situation seriously or think it doesn’t apply to you, please remember those around you who are at risk and danger of becoming very ill. Olivia has chronic lung disease as result of being born an extreme preemie at only 24 weeks and 4 days. Part of her breathing or respiratory issues could also be a result of her having Cerebral Palsy (CP). Most likely it is a combination of both.
As promised in my previous post, let me spread some more awareness about CP! I think I should actually take a step back and give everyone a clear definition of what CP is. In short, Cerebral means having to do with the brain and Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. This means there is a disconnect between what your brain sends to your muscles. CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain. The symptoms of CP can range greatly from person to person, there is no such thing as a cookie cutter person with CP. Those with more severe CP may need to use special equipment to be able to walk, or might not be able to walk at all. Whereas, a person with mild CP may walk a little awkwardly, but might not need any special equipment. CP does not get worse over time, but with therapy could get better. In a nutshell, those with CP suffer from stiff muscles, uncontrollable movements and poor balance.
The next important thing to understand about CP is that most people with CP exhibit secondary issues like, deafness, blindness, intellectual disabilities, skin issues and even respiratory issues. So let’s look at respiratory issues because CP can directly impact breathing due to abnormalities in the muscles. Children with CP are more susceptible to respiratory complications like frequent upper respiratory infections, aspiration and even pneumonia. Hence, why I am overly concerned about Olivia contracting the Coronavirus as one can hopefully understand.
With all of this and all kidding aside, I truly hope everyone decides to take proper precautions to stay healthy and keep those most vulnerable in mind. Trust me when I say no one will be more bummed about ‘social lockdown’ than the Garcia Family, especially Gracie, my social butterfly!
