Help For The Swine Flu

Around our house we have been discussing the swine flu (H1N1) quite a bit. We have been throwing words like pandemic, outbreak, quarantine and the likes around. We are hovering on the line between reaction and over-reaction. You see, a normal case of the flu for most of us is an inconvenience and it makes us feel terrible but will pass in a few days. However, the flu for Abby can be a whole different scenario. Her congenital heart disease makes her in the high risk category for having complications from the flu. Children with CHD generally have more severe cases of the flu, often requiring hospitalization. Children with CHD also have higher instances of pneumonia and/or strokes and heart attacks in the week following the flu. Since we don't want anyone bringing it home to her, we all get our flu shots early each season. Since we now have cases of the Swine Flu in Utah (they aren't confirmed yet but the health department is fairly certain) we have been talking about the precautions we need to take in order to make sure Abby isn't exposed to this strain which she has no protection against. Last night at dinner Nathan was asked to give the dinner prayer. He prayed for the usuals: the food would be good and good for us, daddy would drive to and home from work safely, the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan would be protected, we could make good decisions...then he added this, "please bless that we can be safe from the Swine Flu and that none of us will get sick with the Swine Flu." What a sensitive and darling little guy he is. My children are always reminding me where the source of all knowledge and protection comes from!!!! I am thankful for his innocent and beautiful reminder.