After 24 shots, quarantine and two winters we thought that we had finally arrived at a safe distance from RSV. Anyone who has ever had a premature child knows the evil of RSV. The medical staff usually plants such dramatic seeds of terror into our minds that we as parents do things like keep our children away from friends and family - especially those who have children with runny noses. We isolate ourselves in our homes and make visits to the doctor (but demand an isolated room) for every fever-runny nose combination.

They say RSV is dangerous to preemies up to age two. For this reason and because Brooke was a 26 weeker, we miraculously qualified for two seasons of Synagis - a shockingly expensive shot that delivers live antibodies of RSV and needs to be administered monthly during the dangerous months usually October through April.  This is of course traumatic for the babies (ours actually needed two shots at one time because of the dose). However, it is worth it compared to actually contracting RSV.

Our third winter was our first winter of liberation. We didn't quarantine Brooke at all. We let her play and touch children with runny noses. We went to public places, we visited with all of our family. However, to our horror Brooke got RSV. Not only did she get it, but it knocked her out pretty hard. I wasn't expecting her to not get RSV, but I was expecting Brooke to be able to weather the virus well at this point. With a birthday in march she was months away from three! I was wrong.  Her Chronic Lung Diseased lungs started to give way to the virus almost immediately and we took her to the ER as soon as we decided her breathing was in distress.

Brooke's breathing became extremely rapid very quickly and her oxygen saturation levels dropped into the low 90s and the high 80s. Throughout the hospital stay her oxygen saturations went into the 70s. We were in the emergency room for two days and then when they had room, we were transferred to the Intensive care unit. Brooke got progessively worse throughout her hospital stay and bounced back on her sixth day or so. On day Eight we were finally discharged. Brooke was brave and sweet as she always is.  The hospital is no place for toddler. It is painful and terrorizing.

At least one of the nurses gave Brooke a Winnie the Pooh magic marker coloring set. Mom NEVER gives her markers. That brought a smile to her face. Also, her Nana spent hours with her every day to give her tender care and to give her mother (me) a chance to go home and shower and nap.

As miserable as the experience was, the bottom line is that Brooke conquered RSV. Good job, Brooke! She can contract it again at any point, but we're hoping and praying that when / if she does it won't anywhere near as bad as it was.