Your Kid Is Suffering From The Black Plague?
Posted: Wednesday, December 12, 2007
by Laura Trahan
Hello, my name is Laura and my daughter has Mono.
My three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Mononucleosis last Friday. For us, it was at that moment that all normalcy in our life failed to exist. Not because of her being sick, but instead from people's reaction to it.
A little background information may be necessary. I work at an MDO Program at our church. My daughter attends while I work. Our extent of social life, however, is church, school and home. Her class had only five kids at one point last week so many kids had been out sick.
So why is this an issue? Because she goes to a school at a church. Any other place, it would be over with a doctor note. However, gossip travels fasters than a speeding bullet in a church. Parents seem to lose all rational thought when it comes to these issues and are "freaking" out as fast as you can say the word, mono."
I have been on the phone non-stop for two days hearing about how they have to take their kid in now because grandma so and so ended up in the hospital when they had it. They sent a letter home with the parents in her class saying that their child has been exposed to mono. Did we get a letter last week when our kid was exposed? No, nor did we when our daughter has brought home numerous viruses in the past.
The rationality in these parents is gone. I have heard parent after parent say they are going to get their child tested. When I ask if their child had any symptoms, the answer is no, but they have to be safe.
My daughter is looking at years of being known as the mono kid. Moms everywhere will forever be telling their sons to stay away from her. Of course, now you think I am the one over-reacting. Most likely I am, but that is what happens when you are up late answering endless calls telling me that they are going to have their kid tested. My daughter did nothing wrong.
The kicker to all of this is that the medical community does nothing for mono. It is a virus. You get no prescription, no magic cure. So you are paying for a test to get nothing in return. Getting mono can be difficult. I mean we all remember in high school how is was referred to as the "kissing disease." Her saliva has to end up in somebody's mouth. That simple. It is only spread through eating and drinking after someone who has it.
When I explain that to parents on the phone, it is always followed with the question if my daughter sits by their kid at lunch. I don't know where the teacher sits anybody, but I am sure it won't be long until she is in the corner eating by herself.
Mono also has a worse effect the older you are. I was told to stay home from work this week, so we went shopping. That is the bad effect on her. She goes non-stop still and I am felt like the bad parent for letting her.
I guess the point I am trying to make is that she is three. She should not be treated like she has the plague because of a virus. We are looking at a months of bringing her in church service with us because parents do not want her in childcare with their child. Didn't Jesus say we should love everybody even the sick and especially the little children? The message we have gotten this week isn't that good.
Is it possible to be rejected from the church for a virus?
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Laura, How pathetic of the church community. Maybe you need to look for another church? In my article, ARE YOU PREACHING TO THE CHOIR? I mentioned the pastor who sent his pregnant kid away because he was afraid of the congregation's reaction. All I can say is, don't get caught up in worrying about what others think! It's a trap. With young children, bacteria and viruses are commonplace. Mono happens all the time to kids and there should be no stigma attached to it. Sorry it has been such an ordeal. Take care. Merry Christmas!James, Thanks for the comment! I have to admit my feelings were hurt in the beginning, but now I see this whole fiasco as kind of humorous. I could never leave our church because it is family. This is what families do-upset each other sometimes. We are all human despite being members of a church or not. I aplogize for the pastor above and for any other Christian who make hurtful mistakes. But they are just mistakes. Pastors and church goers are human and mistakes, sin will happen. This same church family who said or did hurtful things is also the same family that brought us dinners a few years ago when our daughter was in the NICU or collected money for us when my husband lost his job. These parents are just trying to do the best to look out for their own and despite the hurt-I have a Christian love for who they are judgements and all. God made them and through him they are all perfect! He gave me grace and they need grace as well. I hope you have a Merry Christmas! Thanks for contributing so much at Searchwarp through the comments. You bring about good discussion that needs to happen. You also open people's eyes. You were completly correct in your article about Preaching to the Choir! We do so need to practice what we preach. Thanks for your imput!
hi laura, 3 years old-whoda thunk? so she has mono-what happens when chicken pox starts making it's way through the group? my kids got chicken pox when they were in their late teens-who knows from where, and they were scarred for life, and in miserable pain. my daughter is 22 now, and still says the one day she was so sick was the worst day of her life. viruses and diseases are a part of life, and should, in my opinion, be treated as such. thank God it isn't anything more serious. my daughter was friends with a little girl who developed a brain tunor in pre first. she passed away in 2nd grade. i took my daughter to the service, and we were the only "classmates"of this child to attend. i felt it important for my daughter to experience life, and show her respect to a friend she lost. keep that chin up, and keep your daughter away from kissing the boys:) this too, shall pass. happy holidays, best regards, sueSue, Thanks for commenting! How sad for that family! I can not imagine! We actually had a chicken pox scare this past summer during vbs-it was the same response. People just want to protect their kids. . .I realize that. Yes, I always try to keep her away from the boys! :) Merry Christmas! -Laura
hi laura, i can honestly say with all good intentions: don't keep your kids away from chicken pox. it is so much less invasive and less painful when they are young. my kids were deathly ill with it at 17 and 19. then my youngest got it at 14, and was much better off. i never kept them from it, and they were exposed for years in school, they just never got it. much better to go through it at a young age. but, if your daughter has mono at 3, she'll probably get the chicken pox at 30:) merry christmas to you too, best regards, sue
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