what we didn’t tell you

If you are on Facebook and I’ve allowed you into the inner sanctum of my friendship circle (okay, so really it’s not that sacred or special of a sanctum being that I “accept” all friend requests) then you might remember that about five or six weeks ago, Ira spent four days in the hospital. What Laura and I never revealed was the reason that Ira was in the hospital. But now I think I’m ready to tell you why he was in the hospital. Not because I’m overly voyeuristic or over-the-top narcissistic (although those labels I’m denying could be debated), but because once I reveal to you what Ira dealt with and overcame it will be one more testament to his strength and determination. It’s one more way for you to shake your head in disbelief at this amazing kid of ours. So here goes.

Ira had the swine flu.

Yep, the swine flu. The real deal. I knew something was up when they came in, after tests were administered, and moved Ira to a private room with several sets of doors between him and the rest of the hospital. And then they confirmed our suspicions: Ira was sick. Really sick. With something they wanted to contain. And then they said it. “Ira tested positive for what is being called in the media as, ‘the swine flu.’”

Laura and I immediately restated what we had been hearing for the past couple of months as this epidemic swept over the world. “What we hear is that those with other health concerns and conditions are the ones who die from the swine flu.” We made this statement to the round of doctors and officials from the Center of Disease Control hoping they would say, “Nah, that’s a myth.” Instead, they shook their heads and confirmed what we had heard.

Luckily, we had machines at the house that told us Ira wasn’t breathing well and that his heart was beating too fast. Luckily, we took him in as soon as we reazlied his numbers were off. Luckily, he got tested and the docs and nurses saw what needed to be done. Luckily, Ira is who Ira is. And so four days later, he was completely back to his old self. Swine Flu, get thee behind me.

So if you are keeping score at home. Ira has kicked the following conditions in the ass:

-not having a diaphragm at birth

-having little to no lung capacity at birth

-pulmonary hypertension

-RSV

-loads of little bodily infections, inside and out

-and now, THE SWINE FLU

Bring it.

Filed under: Ira, sick