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I am angry, sad and frustrated tonight. Torn between keeping my children physically safe & mentally safe. I am trying my absolute best to hold it together, yet I sit here in the back kitchen, crying. Alone.
My children probably saved many lives in 2009. But they paid a price...
My children probably saved many lives in 2009. But they paid a price...
2/ The memories of what my girls went through with swine flu have never left me. Watching their every breath as they slept, afraid they may not wake. Frantically trying to cool my 7 year old as she had another febrile convulsion...
3/ Trying to know what they wanted as they couldnât talk between wheezing, coughing and throats so raw, they bled. Begging them to drink fluids, knowing the pain of swallowing was so hard for them.
4/ After three long weeks, I thought that was it. But the worst was yet to come. One of my girls started experiencing pain all over her little body. I had to dress her every morning. She was described by a nurse in hospital as âan elderly lady getting out of bedâ...
5/ My other daughter developed the most severe headaches & was admitted to hospital with high blood pressure.
Both of them suffered immense fatigue.
Both of them suffered immense fatigue.
6/ Two healthy children suddenly became 2 very unwell little girls. And no answers were forthcoming other than it was âpost-viralâ (eg. Caused by swineflu).
To this day, they still suffer with these ailments.
11 years later.
To this day, they still suffer with these ailments.
11 years later.
7/ Back in 2009, the Government did not proactively close schools down.
They waited - yes, WAITED - until children like mine, contracted the virus, and only when tests were confirmed did they then close the schools.
To this day, I feel my children were used in an experiment.
They waited - yes, WAITED - until children like mine, contracted the virus, and only when tests were confirmed did they then close the schools.
To this day, I feel my children were used in an experiment.
8/ Although I like to believe my girls probably saved many lives because we informed the school, the reality is, nobody will ever know, nor do many care.
Our Government certainly donât care.
They are aiming to do exact same again, citing bullshit such as âherd immunityâ.
Our Government certainly donât care.
They are aiming to do exact same again, citing bullshit such as âherd immunityâ.
9/ So tonight, my children are happy out, laughing and safe in our sitting room, yet, I simply feel overwhelmed.
I want my children to be with their friends, talk to teachers, even get in trouble for no homework done - essentially - be kids!
I want them in school.
I want my children to be with their friends, talk to teachers, even get in trouble for no homework done - essentially - be kids!
I want them in school.
10/ BUT, I want them to be healthy enough to do all of these things.
The bottom line:
I want them to be alive.
Is that too much to want as a parent?? Am I a bad parent for wanting all of those things?!? Am I a bad parent for wanting others to care about kids like mine?!?
The bottom line:
I want them to be alive.
Is that too much to want as a parent?? Am I a bad parent for wanting all of those things?!? Am I a bad parent for wanting others to care about kids like mine?!?
11/ This is not me blaming schools or even BOMs - I am directly blaming the Department of Education and every other relevant department and Authority for putting principals and teachers (AND parents like me) in this horrible, horrible position.
12/ Global science shows that #COVID19 is airborne, that children can transmit it, can get it and can die from it.
Yes.
As harsh as it sounds, children can die from #COVID19
Yet - the guidelines issued to schools are absolute bullshit.
(PS I rarely swear - online - )
Yes.
As harsh as it sounds, children can die from #COVID19
Yet - the guidelines issued to schools are absolute bullshit.
(PS I rarely swear - online - )
13/ Making children stand/sit outdoors for periods of time in the Irish winter (especially those with joint/circulatory diseases) is a serious issue - especially when they canât wear their own warm clothes/jackets and have to wear uniforms/flimsy blazers.
14/ No masks for children in rooms where there is only 1 metre distance goes against global data/science (2 metres is the safest)
15/ Yes, uniforms should be washed daily BUT many people do not have facilities to wash/dry uniforms daily; and many uniforms canât tolerate 60 degree washes. Jackets should also be washed (buttons/zips - hard surfaces!) Please, at least, temporarily, stand down school uniforms.
16/ But above all else, the fact schools will open in the middle of a global #pandemic with case numbers on the RISE and no mandatory masks is absolutely mindboggling.
It is like a game of Russian roulette.
But instead of a gun, a deadly, silent virus.
It is like a game of Russian roulette.
But instead of a gun, a deadly, silent virus.
17/ The choice will be left to me, their mom, not the Government - to allow them âplay the gameâ or not.
It will feel be me, their mom, that will feel their hurt if I say they canât go to school but their friends can.
It will be me that will care for them if they get sick.
It will feel be me, their mom, that will feel their hurt if I say they canât go to school but their friends can.
It will be me that will care for them if they get sick.
18/ It will be me, their mom, who will have to stop applying for work again because I will have to homeschool, with little to no proper resources.
And try and support my husbands business, which is suffering immensely since this whole thing started.
And try and support my husbands business, which is suffering immensely since this whole thing started.
It will be me, that will feel the wrath from others that donât agree/understand what it is to have kids with health conditions.
I wish the Government would stop causing divisions and ensuring blame is put on schools/teachers/BOMs.
Take a stance. Do your job. Protect lives.
I wish the Government would stop causing divisions and ensuring blame is put on schools/teachers/BOMs.
Take a stance. Do your job. Protect lives.
