She is the reason I took my daughter to the hospital that night of January 12th just shortly after I saw you on the news. ![]() “It was because of your bravery sharing the story of Scarlet. All the messages touched me deeply and soon became a life boat to keep me from drowning in grief. Some talked about getting diagnosed for flu, others talked about getting vaccinated. They explained how her story touched them and led them to seek the care they needed for their loved ones. It drives me absolutely mad!īut in the months following her death, I’ve started to see the path that is laid out before me.įollowing a local media interview on KOMO 4 News in Seattle, people who had heard Scarlet’s story began sending me heart-felt messages. The moment to moment tension…the never ending whiplash to and fro between these emotions…the grief and the gift. My focus shifts back and forth between the grief I have, and the gift I had. My mind is consumed with her memory, and yet I so often forget that she’s no longer here with us. So, how is it that I keep forgetting?Įvery day since her passing I try to accept the fact that my beautiful Scarlet is gone. She was such a presence in our home, it is quite obvious she isn’t here. She wasn’t in the living room with us so I started looking around, assuming she was getting into something she shouldn’t. The kids were playing and the adults were chatting, and I found myself looking for Scarlet. On another occasion some friends stopped by. How could I forget that? Everyday my heart is heavy with grief and pain. ![]() Just a few weeks ago, we went to a restaurant and I ordered four kid’s meals. It’s been almost a year since Scarlet left us and yet I still find myself questioning how I’m supposed to respond when people ask me how many children I have. ![]() The medical examiner should have written a death certificate for me as well, because when Scarlet died, a part of me died too. Whatever you imagine it might be like to have your child die, multiply that a zillion times, and you’re still not even close. I still feel her presence everywhere, but mourn the fact that I can no longer see her. Only a parent understands the absolute love you have for your child and the monumental desire that roars like an open fire inside you to protect them at all costs. Is it possible that I could have done something that may have saved her life?Īs I approach the anniversary of Scarlet’s death, I think of the sweet, beautiful and vibrant child that once graced this earth. If only I had gotten my family vaccinated. If only I had known how dangerous the flu could be. If only I had identified her symptoms as influenza sooner. In the months since Scarlet’s death I can’t help but wish I had known more. To say I was mistaken is an understatement. I thought the vaccine wasn’t necessary because everyone who got the flu got over it. I thought the vaccine was more likely to give you the flu than prevent it. I thought the flu shot was a way for pharmaceutical companies to make money. To be completely honest, prior to Scarlet’s death I was not aware of the dangers of the flu, the symptoms of the flu, or the fact that influenza could be deadly to an otherwise healthy child. ![]() No matter what your age, the flu can be dangerous and even deadly. As we begin the 2015-2016 season, we urge every one to get a flu vaccine. Of those 147 children, we know the vaccination status of 123 of them – 14 were ineligible for vaccination due to age, 15 were vaccinated, and 94 were unvaccinated. Sadly, the season was marked by 147 pediatric deaths. “ Last week marked the official end of the 2014-2015 flu season. Vaccine Resources for Healthcare Providers.Vaccine Resources for Immunization Partners/Advocates.Outbreaks of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.Questions and Answers About COVID-19 Vaccines.
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