Just ONE of the crazy ‘Savannah during the pandemic’ stories …

SO MANY THINGS have actually happened in my little corner of the world since March 2020, but this one is certainly in the top 5. And, not surprising, S is the main character …

The shutdown started here in SC around mid-March. During those first couple of weeks, it was all about surviving … literally. She and I were just trying to balance the whole virtual school thing, + me working, + just taking it day by day and hoping this was all a bad dream we would eventually wake up from. Clearly that didn’t happen.

Anyhoo … in typical S fashion, the anomaly that she is, she didn’t think a pandemic was really enough for her mama to handle, she figured it was best to throw a curve ball to see how I would handle it.

And here we go … about 2 weeks after the shutdown I noticed this little bump on S upper leg had burst. She has had this bump forever, I’m talking years. I had brought it to her pediatrician’s attention before, but it was just a little, slightly pink cyst like thing, and it didn’t hurt her, didn’t cause any problems, it was just there. Well … then it burst and it started changing. At first, just a bit red, then raised (I know … yuck) … but what was SO HARD for me was this – pre-pandemic?? ANYTHING out of the ordinary – I am at her Peds office STAT. Friends and family that know me best and know of her extensive and insane medical history know that I am not a parent that can just say – meh – shell be fine. That is not how it works in Savannahs world. BUT … I did put it off … I asked her if it hurt? She said no. So, I kept saying … Ill just watch it because clearly, I was terrified of taking S anywhere and especially to a doctor’s office.

One morning, when I did my morning mama/doctors check (I use doctor in the loses sense of the term because clearly, I AM NOT) she said ‘That HURTS’. OK that’s it. I made her an appointment.

I called the ped and told them what was going on and they said yep bring her in. This was in the beginning of April so they were doing the whole triage thing, we parked around back, called, a nurse came out to check her out. The nurse said – I think she needs to come inside.

I was, of course, hesitate and said - I would prefer for Dr. W to come to the car, but if he wants her to come in, we will. Dr. W being the ABSOLUTE BEST PED ever on this entire earth (and trust me, he is my third ped I have had for S) he said it was ok to come to us …

Lord help us all with …

What then transpired – Dr. W came out to the car with full PPE. Opened up the door where S was. At this point, I was still in the driver’s seat and was just telling him the history while he was checking her leg out. He then said – we are going to have to culture it. He went back in to get his supplies and I knew that DRAMA was about to happen. SO – I hopped in the back seat because I knew I would have to help. S kept asking if he was going to give her a shot. I said no honey no shots today, but also knowing at the same time what was about to happen was going to be far worse than a shot. Dr. W came out with his culture kit which of course included something to slice her bump open to culture the crap underneath. Basically, I held S down, one leg and her two arms, and begged for her to look at me instead of what was happening with her leg. She was hysterical, while Dr. W sliced into her bump and was swabbing the puss … all I kept saying was S PLEASE look at mama and I will give you as many ice cream cones and popsicles that you want as soon as we get home!! And being the amazing pediatrician that he is, during it all he said, ice cream and popsicles? Can I come home with y’all?? I said – um I think she basically hates you right now, so no.

Let’s shorten the longest story every …I got the call from Dr. W that shocked us both – nothing grew from the culture. He said he couldn’t believe it because all of the crap that came out. Crisis averted with S – which is not the norm with her. It’s usually, worst case scenario – yep – that is what we are dealing with. All in all – clearly a win.

What I struggled with the most with this situation with S – is this – any other time pre-pandemic, I would have never hesitated to go to the ped. But I did. I was trying to weigh her getting Covid possibly v a possible infection … that should never happen. This pandemic has made parents make the hardest decisions of our lives and I am just so thankful that S is ok and we made it out of yet another crazy S med story. I have a couple of pics of her bump pre-culture and it ain't pretty. Also, I have the luxury of having a sister that did much better for herself than I did as far as education is concerned. No, she is not a pediatrician, but she is an MD. I always seek her advice and she always gives the best advice. Which is – call your PED if she doesn’t have the answer PS. When I took S to her well check in July finally that I had rescheduled over and over again due to Covid … Dr. W looked at her ‘healed’ bump and I said – I doubt you remember this because I know you see so many kids, but… and I was about to remind him of her story – he said OH I REMEMBER HER. Of course, you do Dr. W … she has a way of leaving her mark